[0001] The present invention relates to image decoding methods, and image decoding devices,
and, in particular, to an image decoding method for compression coding a video signal,
using motion compensation.
[0002] In conventional image coding methods represented by ITU-T standard referred to as
H.26x and ISO/IEC standard referred to as MPEG-x, a screen is partitioned into predetermined
units, and coded in the partition units. For example, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (see NPL 1,
for example) processes the screen (picture) in horizontal 16 pixels × vertical 16
pixels units which are referred to as macroblocks. For the motion compensation, the
macroblock is partitioned into rectangular blocks (horizontal 4 pixels x vertical
4 pixels, minimum), and the motion compensation is performed using a motion vector
different for each of the partitioned blocks.
[0003] [NPL 1] ISO/IEC 14496-10 "MPEG-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding"
The document
"Test model under consideration" 1. JCT-VC meeting 15-4-2010 - 23-4-2010 Dresden, JCTVC-A205
18 July 2010 relates to hierarchical Image partition for image coding. It suggests that a multi-level
hierarchical structure can be specified by a given largest coding block size, a given
maximum hierarchical depth and a series of split flag.
The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Any reference
to "embodiment(s)" or "aspect(s) of the invention" not falling under the scope of
the claims should be interpreted as illustrative examples for understanding the invention.
[0004] In the above conventional methods, however, two types of information: Information
indicative of macroblock type; and information indicative of sub-macroblock type are
transmitted as information related to the partition In the macroblock to transmit
a partitioned shape. Herein, the information indicative of macroblock type indicates
that a macroblock size is any of, for example, horizontal 16 pixels × vertical 16
pixels, horizontal 16 pixels × vertical 8 pixels, horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 16
pixels, and horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels. The information indicative of
sub-macroblock type Indicates that when the macroblock type is horizontal 8 pixels
× vertical 8 pixels, a sub-macroblock size is any of horizontal 8 pixels × vertical
8 pixels, horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 4 pixels, horizontal 4 pixels × vertical
8 pixels, and horizontal 4 pixels × vertical 4 pixels.
[0005] In the method of transmitting the partition information as described above, an increased
number of block-size types requires hierarchically sending the partitioned shapes.
Thus, a problem arises that the partition Information cannot be transmitted efficiently.
[0006] The present invention solves the above problem and has an object to provide a video
decoding method which can efficiently decode the partition Information when the screen
is partitioned Into various blocks and decoding the blocks.
[0007] To achieve the above object, an image coding method is image coding method for partitioning
an image into processing units, and coding the partitioned image to generate a code
sequence, the image coding method including: determining a partitioning pattern for
hierarchically partitioning the Image In order starting from a largest unit of the
processing units in a hierarchical format; generating partition information indicative
of the partitioning pattern; and coding the partition Information; wherein the partition
information includes maximum used hierarchy depth information indicative of a maximum
used hierarchy depth which is a hierarchy depth of a deepest processing unit of the
processing units included in the partitioning pattern.
[0008] According to the above configuration, the image coding method
can reduce an amount of coding used for partitioning the screen into various blocks
and coding the blocks, and thus can efficiently code the partition information.
[0009] Moreover, the partition information may further include minimum used hierarchy depth
information indicative of a minimum used hierarchy depth which is a hierarchy depth
of a shallowest processing unit of the processing units included in the partitioning
pattern.
[0010] Moreover, when generating the partition information, the partition information which
includes the minimum used hierarchy depth information may be generated when the maximum
used hierarchy depth is a smallest processing unit of the processing units.
[0011] According to the above configuration, the image coding method
can reduce a greater amount of coding.
[0012] Moreover, when generating the partition information, when it can be defined for each
of the processing units, using the maximum used hierarchy depth, whether the processing
unit is to be further partitioned, information indicative of the partitioning pattern
of the processing unit may be removed from the partition information, and when coding
the partition information, the partition information from which the information has
been removed may be coded.
[0013] According to the above configuration, the image coding method
can reduce a greater amount of coding.
[0014] Moreover, when generating the partition information, when it can be defined for each
of the processing units, using the minimum used hierarchy depth, whether the processing
unit is to be further partitioned, information indicative of the partitioning pattern
of the processing unit may be removed from the partition information, and when coding
the partition information, the partition information from which the Information has
been removed may be coded.
[0015] According to the above configuration, the image coding method
can reduce a greater amount of coding.
[0016] Moreover, an exemplary image coding method may further include estimating a predicted
partitioning pattern which is a predicted value of a partitioning pattern of a current
processing unit, using a partitioning pattern of a coded processing unit, wherein
when determining the partitioning pattern, the partitioning pattern of the current
processing unit may be determined using the predicted partitioning pattern.
[0017] According to the above configuration, the image coding method
can reduce a greater amount of coding.
[0018] Moreover, the image coding method may further Include calculating a difference between
the partitioning pattern and the predicted partitioning pattern, wherein when coding
the partition Information, the partition Information which includes the difference
may be coded.
[0019] According to the above configuration, the Image coding method
can reduce a greater amount of coding.
[0020] Moreover, when estimating the predicted partitioning pattern, the partitioning pattern
of the current processing unit may be estimated using a partitioning pattern of a
processing unit that is adjacent to the current processing unit and in a same frame
as the current processing unit.
[0021] Moreover, when estimating the predicted partitioning pattern, the partitioning pattern
of the current processing unit may be estimated using a partitioning pattern of a
processing unit included in another temporal frame.
[0022] Moreover, an image decoding method according to one embodiment of the present invention
is an Image decoding method for decoding a code sequence generated by the image coding
method, the image decoding method including: decoding the partition information Included
in the code sequence; and determining the partitioning pattern from the decoded partition
Information.
[0023] According to the above configuration, the image decoding method according to one
embodiment of the present Invention can efficiently decode the partition information.
[0024] It should be noted that the present invention can not only be implemented as such
an image decoding method but also as
an image decoding device having characteristic steps, as units, included in the image
coding method and the image decoding method, respectively, or as a program for causing
a computer to execute such characteristic steps. In addition, such a program can,
of course, be distributed by being stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage
medium such as CD-ROM and via a transmission medium such as the Internet.
[0025] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented as a semiconductor integrated
circuit (LSI) which achieves a part or the whole functionality of such an image coding
device and an image decoding device, or as such an image coding device and an image
decoding device.
[0026] From the foregoing, the present invention can provide the video coding method or
the video decoding method which can efficiently encode or decode the partition information
when the screen is partitioned Into various blocks and encoding or decoding the blocks.
[0027]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Image coding device according to an embodiment
1 of the present Invention.
[FIG. 2A] FIG. 2A is a schematic view Illustrating a block hierarchy according to
the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 2B] FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing an example of the block hierarchy according
to the embodiment 1 of the present Invention.
[FIG. 2C] FIG. 2C is a schematic view showing an example of a block hierarchy according
to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 3A] FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing an example of a block partitioning pattern
according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 3B] FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing an example of block partition information
according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 3C] FIG. 3C is a schematic view showing an example of the block partition information
according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a partitioning control unit.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a partition information description
unit,
[FIG. 6A] FIG. 6A is a schematic view showing an example of partitioning pattern and
partition information according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 6B] FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing an example of partitioning pattern and
partition information according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 6C] FIG. 6C Is a schematic view showing an example of partitioning pattern and
partition information according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image decoding device according to an embodiment
2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a partitioning control unit
and a partition information reconstruction unit according to the embodiment 2 of the
present invention.
[FIG. 9A] FIG. 9A is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9B] FIG. 9B is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9C] FIG. 9C is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9D] FIG. 9D is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9E] FIG. 9E is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern,
[FIG. 9F] FIG. 9F is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9G] FIG. 9G is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9H] FIG. 9H is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9I] FIG. 9I is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9J] FIG. 9J is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9K] FIG. 9K is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 9L] FIG. 9L is a schematic view showing an example of prediction of a partitioning
pattern.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for predicting a partitioning
method, using partition information on surrounding blocks.
[FIG. 11A] FIG. 11A is a schematic view illustrating a prediction method in which
a partition information description unit and the partition information reconstruction
unit use partition information on a coded frame.
[FIG. 11B] FIG. 11B is a schematic view Illustrating a method in which the partition
information description unit and the partition information reconstruction unit use
partition Information of a coded frame.
[FIG. 12A] FIG. 12A is a flowchart illustrating operation of the partition Information
description unit.
[FIG. 12B] FIG. 12B is a flowchart Illustrating operation of the partition information
reconstruction unit.
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a data structure of partition Information
according to an embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 14A] FIG. 14A Is a schematic view showing an example of a partitioning pattern
using a plurality of block shapes according to an embodiment 5 of the present Invention.
[FIG. 14B] FIG. 14B is a schematic view showing an example of partition information
according to the embodiment 5 of the present invention when the plurality of block
shapes are used.
[FIG. 14C] FIG. 14C a schematic view showing an example of the partition Information
according to the embodiment 5 of the present Invention when the plurality of block
shapes is used.
[FIG. 15A] FIG. 15A a schematic view illustrating a method according to the embodiment
5 of the present invention to reduce an amount of redundant partition Information.
[FIG. 15B] FIG. 15B is a schematic view illustrating the method according to the embodiment
5 of the present invention to reduce an amount of redundant partition information.
[FIG. 15C] FIG. 15C is a schematic view illustrating the method according to the embodiment
5 of the present invention to reduce an amount of redundant partition information.
[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 shows an overall configuration of a content providing system for
implementing content distribution services.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 shows an overall configuration of a digital broadcasting system.
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration
of a television.
[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration
of an information reproducing/recording unit that reads and writes information from
and on a recording medium that is an optical disk.
[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 shows an example of a configuration of a recording medium that is
an optical disk.
[FIG. 21A] FIG. 21A shows an example of a cellular phone.
[FIG. 21B] FIG. 21B is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a
cellular phone.
[FIG. 22] FIG. 22 illustrates a structure of multiplexed data.
[FIG. 23] FIG. 23 schematically shows how each stream is multiplexed in multiplexed
data.
[FIG. 24] FIG. 24 shows how a video stream is stored in a stream of PES packets in
more detail.
[FIG. 25] FIG. 25 shows a structure of TS packets and source packets in the multiplexed
data.
[FIG. 26] FIG. 26 shows a data structure of a PMT.
[FIG. 27] FIG. 27 shows an internal structure of multiplexed data information.
[FIG. 28] FIG. 28 shows an internal structure of stream attribute information.
[FIG. 29] FIG. 29 shows steps for identifying video data.
[FIG. 30] FIG. 30 shows an example of a configuration of an integrated circuit for
implementing the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method
according to each of embodiments.
[FIG. 31] FIG. 31 shows a configuration for switching between driving frequencies.
[FIG. 32] FIG. 32 shows steps for identifying video data and switching between driving
frequencies.
[FIG. 33] FIG. 33 shows an example of a look-up table in which video data standards
are associated with driving frequencies.
[FIG. 34A] FIG. 34A is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for sharing
a module of a signal processing unit.
[FIG. 34B] FIG. 34B is a diagram showing another example of a configuration for sharing
a module of the signal processing unit.
[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below
are each merely a preferred illustration of the present invention. Values, shapes,
materials, components, disposition or a form of connection between the components,
steps, and the order of the steps are merely illustrative, and are not Intended to
limit the present invention. The present invention Is limited only by the scope of
the appended claims. Thus, among components of the below embodiments, components not
set forth in the independent claims indicating the top level concept of the present
Invention are not necessary to achieve the present invention but will be described
as components for preferable embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image coding device 100 using an Image coding method
according to an embodiment 1 of the present invention. The Image coding device 100
shown in FIG. 1 divides an input Image signal 120 into processing units (blocks) and
codes the partitioned image to generate a code sequence 140.
[0030] The image coding device 100 includes a difference unit 101, a transform unit 102,
a quantization unit 103, an inverse quantization unit 104, an inverse transform unit
105, an adder 106, a prediction unit 107, a coding control unit 108, a variable-length
coding unit 109, a partitioning unit 110, a partitioning control unit 111, and a partition
information description unit 112. It should be noted that the partitioning unit 110
and the prediction unit 107 each may include a memory therein.
[0031] The input image signal 120 is inputted to the partitioning unit 110. The partitioning
unit 110 divides the input image signal 120, based on a divide control signal 129,
to generate divided image signals 121, and outputs the generated divided image signals
121 to the difference unit 101 and the prediction unit 107.
[0032] The partitioning control unit 111 determines a partitioning pattern indicating how
the image is to be partitioned by the partitioning unit 110. Herein, the processing
units (blocks) are in a hierarchical format, and the partitioning control unit 111
determines the partitioning pattern in which the input image signal 120 is divided
hierarchically in order starting from the largest unit of the processing units.
[0033] Examples of the partitioning pattern determined by the partitioning control unit
111 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C and FIGS. 3A, 3B, and
3C.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, the partitioning pattern determined by the partitioning
control unit 111 is represented by hierarchy depth (Depth). As shown in FIG. 2A, an
unpartitioned block can be represented as Depth = 0, blocks obtained by partitioning
the unpartitioned block into four can be represented as Depth = 1, and the following
blocks can be represented in the same manner. FIG. 2B shows an example of block-sizes
and hierarchy depths when the largest block-size is horizontal 64 pixels × vertical
64 pixels. FIG. 2C shows an example of block-sizes and hierarchy depths when the largest
block-size is horizontal 128 pixels × vertical 128 pixels.
[0035] The partitioning pattern will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
3A to FIG. 3C.
[0036] Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A shows an example where the largest
block-size is horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64 pixels and the smallest block-size
is horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels. The block is partitioned by a method in
which the following is specified in turn: whether the largest block-size is to be
partitioned; and if so, whether blocks obtained by partitioning the largest block
are to be further partitioned. The block partitioning pattern can be represented by
hierarchy (Dn_type) for each hierarchy depth. Herein, it is assumed that n is a value
of hierarchy depth (Depth).
[0037] FIG. 3B shows an example where the partitioning pattern shown in FIG. 3A is represented
by hierarchy partition mode information. Herein, for purposes of simplicity, there
are two types of the hierarchy partition mode information, including a type indicating
that the block is not partitioned (Dn_type = 0) and a type indicating that the block
is partitioned into four (Dn_type = 1). It should be noted that, hereinafter, the
hierarchy depths represented by Depth = 0, 1, 2, and 3 will be described as hierarchy
depths 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
[0038] First, the largest block is partitioned, and thus has D0_type = 1. At hierarchy depth
1 (Depth = 1) for the next block-size, the hierarchy partition mode information is
represented as follows: in a zigzag fashion from top to bottom, unpartitioned block
(D1_type = 0); partitioned block (D1_type = 1); unpartitioned block (D1_type = 0);
and partitioned block (D1 type = 1). Here, the hierarchy partition mode information
on the next hierarchy depth 2 (Depth = 2) is unnecessary for the unpartitioned blocks.
Next, the same representation is used also for hierarchy depth 2 (Depth = 2) for a
block-size that is further partitioned. Specifically, four blocks at hierarchy depth
2 (Depth = 2) obtained by partitioning the block at the hierarchy depth 1 which is
the first block that has D1_type = 1 are all unpartitioned (D2_type = 0). Regarding
the four blocks obtained by partitioning the last block that has D1_type = 1, the
first block can be represented as partitioned (D2_type = 1), and the remaining three
blocks can be represented as unpartitioned (D2_type = 0).
[0039] FIG. 3C shows an example in which the representation in FIG. 3B is simplified and
collectively represented. In other words, FIG. 3C shows an example in which the hierarchy
partition mode information for each block-size is collectively represented as the
partition mode information (type). It should be noted that in this example, the partition
mode information is, similarly to the hierarchy partition mode information, binary
information one of which indicates that a block is partitioned (1) and the other of
which indicates that a block is not partitioned (0). Thus, information content of
the partitioning pattern shown in FIG. 3A is of 13 bits. The partitioning control
unit 111 then outputs the partition information 130 indicative of the partitioning
pattern as shown in FIG. 3C to the partition information description unit 112.
[0040] Next, operation of the partitioning control unit 111 to determine the partitioning
pattern set forth above will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0041] Cost information (coding cost) required for the determination of the partitioning
pattern is calculated, for example, as follows.
[0042] The partitioning unit 110 divides the input image signal 120 to a size of interest
for cost calculation, to generate the divided image signals 121, and outputs the generated
divided image signals 121 to the prediction unit 107.
[0043] The prediction unit 107 generates a predicted image signal 128, based on a decoded
image signal 127 that has been encoded and decoded and a prediction mode acquired
from the coding control unit 108. Herein, the coding control unit 108 specifies for
the prediction unit 107 a prediction mode among at least one candidate prediction
mode which is predetermined. Examples of the candidate prediction mode include a mode
in which predicted pixels are generated by extrapolating adjacent pixels in the screen
in a predetermined direction and a mode in which predicted pixels are generated using
pixels having high correlation with other encoded and decoded frame.
[0044] Furthermore, the prediction unit 107 calculates coding cost which is a weighted
sum of prediction information and the correlation information. Herein, the prediction
information is information required for the generation of the predicted image signal
128, such as directional information for extrapolating adjacent pixels in the screen
and relative position information (motion vector information) with other frame. The
correlation information indicates the degree of correlation between the divided image
signal 121 and the predicted image signal 128, and is, for example, a sum of absolute
differences between the divided image signal 121 and the predicted image signal 128.
The prediction unit 107 calculates as the coding cost, for example, a value indicated
in the below (Equation 1) which is known as a cost function.
[0045] Furthermore, the prediction unit 107 calculates the coding costs, and outputs to
the difference unit 101 a predicted image signal 128 that has been predicted in a
prediction mode that yields a smallest coding cost of all the candidate prediction
modes. The prediction unit 107 outputs the prediction mode, the prediction information,
and the coding cost that are at that time to the coding control unit 108. The coding
control unit 108 outputs the coding cost described above to the partitioning control
unit 111, and outputs a coding control signal 132 which includes the prediction mode
and the prediction information to the variable-length coding unit 109.
[0046] For example, a Lagrangian cost function J indicated by (Equation 1) will be used
as the above RD cost function.
[Equation 1]
where R is an amount of coding which is used for coding a difference image (quantized
transform coefficients information 124), the prediction mode, and the prediction information,
D is an amount of coding distortion, and λ is the Lagrange multiplier calculated according
to a quantization parameter QP which is used for coding. The coding control unit 108
selects a prediction mode that yields a smallest cost function J as a prediction mode
for use for coding.
[0047] It should be noted that substitution values may be used for values of R and D. For
example, merely the prediction mode information may be used as the amount of coding
R, and a sum of absolute difference between the divided image signal 121 and the predicted
image signal 128 may be used as the amount of coding distortion.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation of the partitioning control unit 111.
[0049] Herein, for purposes of simplicity, an example is shown where the largest block-size
is horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64 pixels, the smallest block-size is horizontal
8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels, and the partition mode information indicates two types
including a type indicating that a block is partitioned (1) and a type indicating
that a block is not partitioned (0), as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B.
[0050] The partitioning control unit 111 acquires the coding costs of the divided image
signals 121 obtained by the partitioning unit 110 dividing the input image signal
120 into horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64 pixels blocks. The partitioning control
unit 111 then sets values of the acquired coding costs as cost values (D0_cost) of
horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64 pixels blocks (hierarchy depth 0) (step S401).
[0051] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 resets (sets to 0) "D1_total_cost" indicating
a total coding cost for the next hierarchy depth 1 (Depth = 1) (step S402).
[0052] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 performs iteration (the processing performed
between steps S403 and S424) on all four blocks (four blocks in this example) at hierarchy
depth 1 (Depth = 1) obtained by partitioning the horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64
pixels block. In other words, the partitioning control unit 111 repeats the processing
steps S403 to S424, sequentially setting a counter D1_loop to 0, 1, 2, and 3.
[0053] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 acquires the coding cost of a horizontal
32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels signal obtained by further partitioning the block at
hierarchy depth 0. The partitioning control unit 111 then sets the acquired coding
cost as a cost value (D1_cost [D1_loop]) of the horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32
pixels block located at a position indicated by the counter D1_loop (step S404). It
should be noted that processing order when the counter Dn_Joop = 0 to 3 may be the
same when encoding and decoding. An example of the processing order includes a zigzag
fashion from top to bottom.
[0054] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 resets (sets to 0) "D2_total_cost" indicating
a total coding cost for the next hierarchy depth 2 (Depth = 2) (step S405).
[0055] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 performs iteration (the processing performed
between steps S406 and S418) on all the blocks (four blocks in this example) at hierarchy
depth 2 (Depth = 2) obtained by partitioning the block at the upper hierarchy depth
1 (Depth = 1) in D1_loop. In other words, the partitioning control unit 111 repeats
the processing steps S406 to S418, sequentially setting a counter D2_loop to 0, 1,
2, and 3.
[0056] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 acquires the coding cost of a horizontal
16 pixels × vertical 16 pixels signal obtained by further partitioning the blocks
at hierarchy depth 1. The partitioning control unit 111 then sets the acquired coding
cost as a cost value (D2_cost [D2_loop]) of the horizontal 16 pixels × vertical 16
pixels block located at a position indicated by the counter D2_loop (step S407).
[0057] Likewise, the partitioning control unit 111 resets (sets to 0) "D3_total_cost" indicating
a total coding cost for the next hierarchy depth 3 (Depth = 3) (step S408).
[0058] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 performs iteration (the processing performed
between steps S409 and S412) on all the blocks (four blocks in this example) at hierarchy
depth 3 (Depth = 3) obtained by partitioning the blocks at the upper hierarchy depth
2 (Depth = 2) in D2_loop. In other words, the partitioning control unit 111 repeats
the processing steps S409 to S412, sequentially setting a counter D3_loop to 0, 1,
2, and 3.
[0059] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 acquires the coding cost of a horizontal
8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels signal obtained by further partitioning the block at
hierarchy depth 2. The partitioning control unit 111 then sets the acquired coding
cost as a cost value (D3_cost [D3_loop]) of the horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels
block located at a position indicated by the counter D3_loop (step S410). The partitioning
control unit 111 then adds D3_cost [D3_loop] to "D3_tota_cost" (step S411).
[0060] Next, if D3_loop continues, the partitioning control unit 111 increments a value
of the counter D3_Joop by 1 and performs the iteration. When D3_loop all terminates,
the partitioning control unit 111 proceeds to the next step (step 5412).
[0061] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 compares the calculated "D3_total_cost" and
the calculated "D2_cost [D2_loop]" described above (step S413). When "D2_cost [D2_loop]"
is greater than "D3_total_cost" (YES in step S413), the partitioned blocks have a
smaller coding cost than the unpartitioned blocks. Thus, the partitioning control
unit 111 sets "D2type = 1" indicative of partitioned block (step S414), and adds the
value of "D3_total_cost" to "D2_tota_cost" (step S415).
[0062] On the other hand, when "D2_cost [D2_loop]" is smaller than "D3_total_cost" (NO in
step S413), the unpartitioned blocks have a smaller coding cost than the partitioned
blocks. Thus, the partitioning control unit 111 sets "D2type = 0" indicative of unpartitioned
block (step S416), and adds the value of "D2_cost [D2_loop]" to "D2_total_cost" (step
S417).
[0063] Next, if D2_loop continues, the partitioning control unit 111 increments a value
of the counter D3_loop by 1 and performs the iteration. When D2_loop all terminates,
the partitioning control unit 111 proceeds to the next step (step S418).
[0064] Next, the partitioning control unit 111 compares the calculated "D2_total_cost" and
the calculated "D1_cost [D1_loop]" described above (step S419). When "D1_cost [D1_loop]"
is greater than "D2_total_cost" (YES in step S419), the partitioned blocks have a
smaller coding cost than the unpartitioned blocks. Thus, the partitioning control
unit 111 sets "D1type = 1" indicative of partitioned block (step S420), and adds the
value of "D2_total_cost" to "D1_total_cost" (step S421).
[0065] On the other hand, when "D1_cost [D1_loop]" is greater than "D2_total_cost" (NO in
step S419), the unpartitioned blocks have a smaller coding cost than the partitioned
blocks. Thus, the partitioning control unit 111 sets "D1type = 0" indicative of unpartitioned
block (step S422), and adds the value of "D1_cost [D1_loop]" to "D1_total_cost" (step
S423).
[0066] Next, if D1_loop continues, the partitioning control unit 111 increments the value
of the counter D1_loop by 1 and performs the iteration. When D1_loop all terminates,
the partitioning control unit 111 proceeds to the next step (step 5424).
[0067] Last, the partitioning control unit 111 compares the calculated "D1_total_cost" and
the calculated "D0_cost" described above (step S425). When "D0_cost" is greater than
"D1_total_cost" (YES in step S425), the partitioned blocks have a smaller coding cost
than the unpartitioned blocks. Thus, the partitioning control unit 111 sets "D0type
= 1" indicative of partitioned block (step S426).
[0068] On the other hand, when "D0_cost" is smaller than "D1_total_cost" (NO in step S425),
the unpartitioned blocks have a smaller coding cost than the partitioned blocks. Thus,
the partitioning control unit 111 sets "D0type = 0" indicative of unpartitioned block
(step S427).
[0069] According to the above procedure, the partitioning control unit 111 can determine
the partitioning pattern that yields a smallest coding cost.
[0070] It should be noted that the method for determining the partitioning pattern is by
way of example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the
partitioning control unit 111 may parse the divided image signal 121 obtained by the
partitioning unit 110, partition a region, where the variance of the distribution
of pixel values is high, of the divided image signal 121 into small blocks, and partition
a region, where the pixel distribution is consistent, of the divided image signal
121 into large blocks. This allows for reduction of the circuit size of the image
coding device 100.
[0071] Alternatively, as another method for determining the partitioning pattern, the partitioning
control unit 111 may determine the partitioning pattern by a method determined based
on a result of partitioning surrounding encoded and decoded blocks. Alternatively,
as another method for determining the partitioning pattern, the partitioning control
unit 111 may determine the partitioning pattern, utilizing a result of partitioning
blocks in other encoded and decoded frame. Details of these methods will be described
with reference to the embodiment 3.
[0072] Next, a method in which the partition information description unit 112 describes
partition information 131 will be described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0073] The partitioning control unit 111 outputs the partition information 130 indicative
of the partitioning pattern determined by the above method to the partition information
description unit 112. Herein, the partition information 130 is described by the hierarchy
partition mode information or the partition mode information set forth above. The
partition information description unit 112 generates, from the partition information
130, the partition information 131 to be coded by the variable-length coding unit
109.
[0074] First, the partition information description unit 112 acquires the hierarchy partition
mode information (D0type to D2type) for each hierarchy depth included in the partition
information 130 (step S501).
[0075] When D0type is 0 (YES in step S502), the largest block at hierarchy depth (Depth
= 0) is not partitioned. Thus, the partition information description unit 112 sets
a variable "used_max_depth" to "0" indicative of Depth = 0 (step S503). Herein, the
variable "used_max_depth" is maximum used hierarchy depth information indicative of
a maximum used hierarchy depth. The maximum used hierarchy depth indicates the deepest
depth among hierarchy depths used in the largest block-size. In other words, the maximum
used hierarchy depth is a hierarchy depth of the deepest block among partitioned blocks.
[0076] When D0type is not 0 (NO in step S502), the partition information description unit
112 next determines whether all D1type is 0 (step S504). When all D1type is 0 (YES
in step S504), blocks at hierarchy depth 1 (Depth = 1) are not partitioned. Thus,
the partition information description unit 112 sets the variable "used_max_depth"
to "1" indicative of Depth = 1 (step S505).
[0077] On the other hand, when at least one D1type is not 0 (NO in step S504), next, the
partition information description unit 112 determines whether all D2type is 0 (step
S506). When all D2type is 0 (YES in step S506), blocks at hierarchy depth 2 (Depth
= 2) are not partitioned. Thus, the partition information description unit 112 sets
the variable "used_max_depth" to "2" indicative of Depth = 2 (step S507).
[0078] On the other hand, when at least one D2type is not 0 (NO in step S506), up to the
smallest block-size is partitioned. Thus, the partition information description unit
112 sets the variable "used_max_depth" to "3" indicative of Depth = 3 (step S508).
[0079] Next, the partition information description unit 112 determines whether at least
one D1type is set to 0 (step S509). When at least one D1type is set to 0 (YES in step
S509), which indicates that there is an unpartitioned block among blocks having a
size satisfying Depth = 1. Thus, the partition information description unit 112 sets
a variable "used_min_depth" to "1" indicative of Depth = 1 (step S510). Herein, the
variable "used_min_depth" is minimum used hierarchy depth information indicative of
a minimum used hierarchy depth. The minimum used hierarchy depth indicates the shallowest
depth among hierarchy depths used in the largest block-size. In other words, the minimum
used hierarchy depth is a hierarchy depth of the shallowest block among partitioned
blocks.
[0080] On the other hand, when no D1type is set to 0 (NO in step S509), next, the partition
information description unit 112 determines whether at least one D2type is set to
0 (step S511). When at least one D2type is set to 0 (YES in step S511), which indicates
that there is an unpartitioned block among blocks having a size satisfying Depth =
2. Thus, the partition information description unit 112 sets the variable "used_min_depth"
to "2" indicative of Depth = 2 (step S512).
[0081] When no D2type is set to 0 (NO in step S511), blocks having a size satisfying Depth
= 2 are all partitioned. Thus, the partition information description unit 112 sets
the variable "used_min_depth" to "3" indicative of Depth = 3 (step S513).
[0082] The partition information description unit 112 determines "used_max_depth" as described
above. Moreover, the partition information description unit 112 determines "used_min_depth"
only when "used_max_depth = 3." Furthermore, the partition information description
unit 112 determines, based on "used_max_depth" and "used-min_depth", the partition
mode information 130A to be variable-length coded by the variable-length coding unit
109 among the pieces of the partition mode information included in the partition information
130. Then, the partition information description unit 112 generates the partition
information 131 which includes "used_max_depth", "used_min_depth", and the determined
partition mode information 130A, and outputs the generated partition information 131
to the variable-length coding unit 109.
[0083] Herein, details of a signal to be variable-length coded by the variable-length coding
unit 109 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C.
[0084] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C are schematic views showing the partition information 130 and
131 on results of different block partitions.
[0085] First, the result of the block partition shown in FIG. 6A will be described. In this
case, the partition information 130 includes, as the partition mode information, "1"
for a 64 × 64 block, "0101" for 32 × 32 blocks, and "0000" and "0000" for 16 × 16
blocks obtained by partitioning the two 32 × 32 blocks that have "1" (partitioned
blocks) as the partition mode information. The partition information description unit
112 determines "used_max_depth" in this case to be "2". In this case, since the maximum
hierarchy depth as a result of the partition is 2, information "0000" and "0000" indicating
that the 16 × 16 blocks are not partitioned is unnecessary. Thus, the partition information
description unit 112 determines only the partition mode information "0101" on the
32 × 32 blocks as the partition mode information 130A to be coded. The variable-length
coding unit 109 then variable-length codes the partition information 131 which includes
"used_max_depth" and the partition mode information "0101" on the 32 × 32 blocks.
[0086] In this example, the partition mode information is handled as information indicative
of partitioned block (1) and unpartitioned block (0), and thus the bit length of the
partition information 130 is represented by 13 bits. On the other hand, by the partition
information description unit 112 determining the maximum used hierarchy depth, the
partition information 131 variable-length coded by the variable-length coding unit
109 includes 4 bits of the partition mode information and "used_max_depth". Herein,
"used_max_depth" is fixed to 0 to 3 (up to hierarchy depth 3 in this example), and
thus can be represented by 2 bits. In other words, in this case, 13 bit of information
can be represented by 6 bits.
[0087] Next, the result of another block partition shown in FIG. 6B will be described. As
before, the partition information 130 includes, as the partition mode information,
"1" for a 64 × 64 block, "1111" for 32 × 32 blocks, and, "0000", "0001", "0000", and
"1100" for 16 × 16 blocks obtained by partitioning four 32 × 32 blocks that have "1"
(partitioned blocks) as the partition mode information. The partition information
description unit 112 determines that "used_max_depth" is "3" and "used_min_depth"
is "2" in this case. In this case, since the minimum hierarchy depth as a result of
the partition is 2, the partition mode information "1111" indicating that the 32 ×
32 blocks are partitioned is unnecessary. Thus, the partition information description
unit 112 determines only four pieces of the partition mode information on the 16 ×
16 blocks as the partition mode information 130A to be coded. Then, the variable-length
coding unit 109 variable-length codes the partition information 131 which includes
"used_max_depth", "used_min_depth", and the partition mode information "0000", "0001",
"0000", and "1100" on the 16 × 16 blocks.
[0088] Considering the bit length as in FIG. 6A, the bit length of the partition information
130 is 21 bits. On the other hand, the partition information 131 variable-length coded
by the variable-length coding unit 109 includes 16 bits of the partition mode information,
"used_max_depth", and "used_min_depth". Herein, "used_max_depth" is, as described
above, of 2 bits. The "used_min_depth" is fixed to 1 to 3, and thus can be represented
by 1 bit to 2 bits. Thus, 21 bits of information can be represented by 20 bits.
[0089] Next, the result of another block partition shown in FIG. 6C will be described. As
before, the partition information 130 includes, as the partition mode information,
"1" for a 64 × 64 block, "1111" for 32 × 32 blocks, and "1111", "1111", "1111", and
"1111" for 16 × 16 blocks obtained by partitioning four 32 × 32 blocks that have "1"
(partitioned block) as the partition mode information. The partition information description
unit 112 determines that "used_max_depth" is "3" and "used__min_depth" is "3" in this
case. In this case, since the minimum hierarchy depth as a result of the partition
is 3, the partition mode information "1111" indicating that the 32 × 32 blocks and
the 16 × 16 blocks are partitioned is unnecessary. Thus, the variable-length coding
unit 109 variable-length codes the partition information 131 which includes "used_max_depth"
and "used_min_depth."
[0090] The bit length will be considered as in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. The bit length of the
partition information 130 is represented by 21 bits. By the partition information
description unit 112 determining the maximum used hierarchy depth and the minimum
used hierarchy depth, the variable-length coded partition information 131 includes
"used_max_depth" and "used_min_depth." Herein, "used_min_depth" is 2 bits and "used_min_depth"
is 1 bit to 2 bits as described above. Thus, in this case, 21 bits of information
can be represented by 4 bits.
[0091] It should be noted that statistical information may be used for variable-length coding
to assign a frequently occurring signal with a short bit length and assign a less
occurring signal with a long bit length. Also, a dynamic probalistic model such as
arithmetic coding may be used for variable-length coding. In other words, it can be
seen, although a reference value, that the partition information description method
according to the present embodiment increases the possibility that a greater amount
of coding can be reduced.
[0092] As described above, the prediction unit 107 generates the predicted image signal
128 from the decoded image signal 127 which is a coded image signal. Then, the prediction
unit 107 outputs the generated predicted image signal 128 to the difference unit 101
and the adder 106.
[0093] The difference unit 101 calculates a difference between the divided image signal
121, which is a signal obtained by dividing the input image signal 120, and the predicted
image signal 128 to generate a differential signal 122, and outputs the generated
differential signal 122 to the transform unit 102.
[0094] The transform unit 102 transforms the differential signal 122 to generate transform
coefficients 123, and outputs the generated transform coefficients 123 to the quantization
unit 103.
[0095] The quantization unit 103 quantizes the transform coefficients 123 to generate the
quantized transform coefficients information 124, and outputs the generated quantized
transform coefficients information 124 to the variable-length coding unit 109 and
the inverse quantization unit 104.
[0096] The inverse quantization unit 104 inverse quantizes the quantized transform coefficients
information 124 to generate transform coefficients 125, and outputs the generated
transform coefficients 125 to the inverse transform unit 105. The inverse transform
unit 105 performs inverse transform on the transform coefficients 125 to generate
a decoded residual image signal 126, and outputs the generated decoded residual image
signal 126 to the adder 106.
[0097] The adder 106 adds the decoded residual image signal 126 and the predicted image
signal 128 to generate the decoded image signal 127, and outputs the generated decoded
image signal 127 to the prediction unit 107.
[0098] The variable-length coding unit 109 variable-length codes the quantized transform
coefficients information 124 which is a signal to be coded, the coding control signal
132, and the partition information 131, according to signal type, to generate the
code sequence 140.
[0099] It should be noted that details of the structure of the code sequence 140 in the
above partition information description method will be described with reference to
the embodiment 4.
[0100] Moreover, the above method for determining the partitioning pattern is by way of
example and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a result of
partitioning surrounding coded blocks may be used. Also, a result of partitioning
other coded frame may be used. Details in these cases will be described with reference
to the embodiment 3.
[0101] It should be noted that while in the present embodiment, the partition of the macroblock
which is a coding unit has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, units on which the transform is performed by the transform unit 102 may
be described in the same manner. This case will be described in detail with reference
to the embodiment 4.
[0102] It should be noted that while the case has been described which uses two types including
a type indicating that a block is partitioned into four blocks and a type indicating
that a block is not partitioned, the present invention is not limited thereto. For
example, similarly to the case of NPL 1, the present invention is applicable to cases
where the block is partitioned into non-squared shapes (16 pixels × 8 pixels, 8 pixels
× 16 pixels). Details in this case will be described with reference to the embodiment
5.
[0103] It should be noted that if the variable-length coding unit 109 described above employs
arithmetic coding, probalistic models used for arithmetic coding may be switched based
on shape information of the coded block and/or information on the maximum used hierarchy
depth and/or information on the minimum used hierarchy depth. It can be expected that
this further enhances the coding efficiency.
[0104] It should be noted that if the variable-length coding unit 109 described above employs
a variable-length code table, in the bit length calculation described above, when
the reduction of the partition information is great, a long bit length may be assigned
to the information on the maximum used hierarchy depth and/or the minimum used hierarchy
depth, and when the reduction is small, a short bit length may be assigned to the
information on the maximum used hierarchy depth and/or the minimum used hierarchy
depth. This can further increase an enhancement rate of the coding efficiency by the
present embodiment.
[0105] It should be noted that while in the detailed description of the present embodiment,
the largest block-size is horizontal 64 pixels × vertical 64 pixels and the smallest
block-size is horizontal 8 pixels × vertical 8 pixels, the present Invention is applicable
irrespective of size.
(Embodiment 2)
[0106] In an embodiment 2 according to the present invention, an image decoding device 200
will be described which decodes the code sequence 140 generated by the image coding
device 100 described above.
[0107] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the image decoding device 200 which uses a partition
information reconstruction unit 207 according to the present embodiment. The image
decoding device 200 shown in FIG. 7 includes a variable-length decoding unit 201,
a decoding control unit 202, an inverse quantization unit 203, an inverse transform
unit 204, a prediction unit 205, an adder 206, and the partition information reconstruction
unit 207. It should be noted that the prediction unit 205 may include a memory therein.
[0108] The code sequence 140 is a code sequence generated by the image coding device 100
according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention. The code sequence 140 is inputted
to the variable-length decoding unit 201.
[0109] The variable-length decoding unit 201 variable-length decodes the partition information
which is included in the code sequence 140. Specifically, the variable-length decoding
unit 201 variable-length decodes the code sequence 140 to generate a decoded signal
221, and outputs the generated decoded signal 221 to the partition information reconstruction
unit 207, the decoding control unit 202, and the inverse quantization unit 203. It
should be noted that the variable-length decoding unit 201 performs the processing
in partition units based on partition information 226 acquired by the partition information
reconstruction unit 207.
[0110] When the decoded signal 221 is quantized transform coefficients, the inverse quantization
unit 203 inverse quantizes the decoded signal 221 to generate transform coefficients
222. The inverse transform unit 204 performs inverse transform on the transform coefficients
222 to generate a decoded residual image signal 223, and outputs the generated decoded
residual image signal 223 to the adder 206.
[0111] When the decoded signal 221 is predicted image generation-related information 225
indicative of prediction method, the decoding control unit 202 outputs the partition
information 226 acquired by the partition information reconstruction unit 207, and
the predicted image generation-related information 225 to the prediction unit 205.
Herein, the predicted image generation-related information 225 corresponds to the
coding control signal 132 in the image coding device 100, and includes, for example,
the prediction mode and the prediction information.
[0112] The prediction unit 205 generates a predicted image signal 224 in partition units
based on the partition information 226, using the decoded image signal that has been
decoded (output image signal 240) and the predicted image generation-related information
225 acquired from the decoding control unit 202, and outputs the generated predicted
image signal 224 to the adder 206. The adder 206 adds the decoded residual image signal
223 and the predicted image signal 224 to generate the decoded image signal (output
image signal 240).
[0113] It should be noted that when the decoded signal 221 is partition decoding information,
the partition information reconstruction unit 207 reconstructs the partition information
226 from the partition decoding information to determine a partitioning pattern. Herein,
the partition decoding information corresponds to the partition information 131 in
the image coding device 100. The partition information 226 represents the partitioning
pattern and corresponds to the partition information 130 according to the embodiment
1. Details of the processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. 8.
[0114] The partition information reconstruction unit 207 acquires the value of "used_max_depth"
in the partition decoding information (step S801). When "used-max-depth" is 0 (NO
in step S802 and NO in step S803), the partition information reconstruction unit 207
determines that the largest block-size is not to be partitioned (step S804). On the
other hand, when "used_max_depth" is 1 (NO in step S802 and YES in step S803), the
partition information reconstruction unit 207 determines that the block is to be partitioned
into blocks all having a size that satisfies Depth = 1 (the size of blocks obtained
by partitioning the largest block into four) (step S805).
[0115] When "used_max, depth" is 2 (YES in step S802 and NO in step S806), the partition
information reconstruction unit 207 acquires "D1type" of each block, changing the
counter for the blocks at Depth 1 in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3 (step S807 to step S809).
[0116] The partition information reconstruction unit 207 partitions the largest block, based
on the acquired D1type (step S810). It should be noted that D1type is information
for specifying, in order, for example, in a zigzag fashion from top to bottom, a partitioning
pattern for each of four blocks obtained by partitioning the largest block. The partition
information reconstruction unit 207 determines, based on D1type, whether each block
obtained by partitioning the largest block is to be partitioned, to determine the
partitioning pattern of the largest block.
[0117] When "used_max_depth" is 3 (YES in step S802 and YES in step S806), the partition
information reconstruction unit 207 acquires "used_min_depth" (step S811).
[0118] When "used_min depth" is 3 (NO in step S812 and NO in step S813), the partition information
reconstruction unit 207 determines that the largest block is to be partitioned into
blocks all having a size that satisfies Depth = 3 (the size of blocks obtained by
partitioning the largest block into 64) (step S814).
[0119] When "used_min_depth" is 2 (NO in step S812 and YES in step S813), the partition
information reconstruction unit 207 changes a counter in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3 for
the blocks at Depth1, and changes a counter in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3 for blocks
at Depth2, which is a hierarchy depth one deeper than Depth1, thereby acquiring, in
turn, "D2type" of each of the blocks at Depth2 (step S815 to step S819). Then, assuming
that all the blocks has D1type being 1, the partition information reconstruction unit
207 partitions the largest block, based on D2type (step S820). Specifically, the partition
information reconstruction unit 207 partitions the largest block into blocks all having
a size that satisfies Depth = 2. Then, based on D2type, the partition information
reconstruction unit 207 determines whether each block is to be partitioned, thereby
determining the partitioning pattern of the largest block.
[0120] When "used_min_depth" is 1 (YES in step S812), the partition information reconstruction
unit 207 performs iteration (processing performed between step S821 and step S827)
while changing the counter in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3 for the blocks at Depth1, to
acquire "D1type" of each block at Depth1 (step S822).
[0121] It should be noted that when "D1type" is not 0 (NO in step S823), the partition information
reconstruction unit 207 performs iteration (the processing performed between step
S824 and step S826) while changing the counter in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3 for the
blocks at Depth2, to acquire "D2type" of each block at Depth2 (step S825). Thereafter,
the partition information reconstruction unit 207 advances the counter for Depth1
by 1.
[0122] On the other hand, when "D1type" is 0 (YES In step S823), the partition information
reconstruction unit 207 advances the counter for Depth1 by 1 (step S827). Once all
the loops terminates, the partition Information reconstruction unit 207 determines
the partitioning pattern of the largest block, based on D1type and D2type which are
information indicating whether each of blocks corresponding to Depth1 and Depth2,
respectively, for each hierarchy depth are to be partitioned (step S828).
[0123] The processing as described above allows for correctly decoding the code sequence
140 coded by the coding method according to the embodiment 1. As described above,
the present Invention can achieve a coding method which provides high coding efficiency,
and a decoding method.
(Example 3)
[0124] In the present example, a case will be described where a partition Information description
unit 112 predicts the partitioning pattern.
[0125] The partition information description unit 112 uses a partitioning pattern of a coded
block to estimate a predicted partitioning pattern which is a predicted value of the
partitioning pattern of a block to be processed. A partitioning control unit 111 determines
the partitioning pattern of the block to be processed, using the predicted partitioning
pattern estimated.
[0126] It should be noted that the partition Information description unit 112 may use a
partitioning pattern of a block which is adjacent to the block to be processed and
in the same frame as the block to be processed, to estimate the partitioning pattern
of the block to be processed, or may use a partitioning pattern of a block included
in other temporal frame to estimate the partitioning pattern of the block to be processed.
[0127] First, a method, which predicts a partitioning pattern of a block to be processed
(hereinafter, also described as current block) from a partitioning pattern of an adjacent
encoded and decoded block (hereinafter, also referred to as adjacent block), will
be described with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9I, 9J, 9K, and
9L and FIG. 10. FIG. 9A to FIG. 9L are schematic views illustrating cases where the
partition information of the current block is predicted from partition information
of an adjacent block.
[0128] FIG. 9A to FIG. 9L shows examples where a current block 900 is predicted using adjacent
blocks 901 and 902. Herein, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9E, and FIG. 9I each show a case where a
left adjacent block to the current block 900 is prioritized when an adjacent block
in the current block 900 is not used for prediction. FIG. 9B, FIG. 9F, and FIG. 9J
each show a case where a top adjacent block to the current block 900 is prioritized
when an adjacent block in the current block 900 are not used for prediction. FIG.
9C, FIG. 9G, and FIG. 9K each show a case where a left adjacent block is prioritized
when an adjacent block in the current block 900 is used for prediction. FIG. 9D, FIG.
9H, and FIG. 9L each show a case where a top adjacent block is prioritized when an
adjacent block in the current block 900 is used for prediction.
[0129] FIG. 9A to FIG. 9H show cases where no restrictions of prediction is particularly
imposed. FIG. 9I to FIG. 9L show cases where predicted maximum hierarchical block
(Depth = 2 in this case) is specified.
[0130] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for predicting the partitioning pattern.
[0131] Herein, the partition information description unit 112 performs the prediction processing
in the same order as the processing for determining the partitioning pattern (for
example, In order in a zigzag fashion from top to bottom), and, with respect to the
hierarchy (Depth), the prediction processing is performed in order from top (Depth
= 0) to bottom (Depth = a hierarchy depth of the smallest block-size).
[0132] First, the partition Information description unit 112 acquires, for the current block,
partition information of an adjacent processed block which is adjacent to the current
block (step S1001). The partition information acquired here is of an adjacent block
at the same hierarchy depth as the current block. When there is no partition information
of an adjacent block at the same hierarchy depth, the partition Information description
unit 112 determines the partition information of the current block to be "unpartitioned
block."
[0133] When the partition information of both the top adjacent block and the left adjacent
block or the partition information of an adjacent block, which Is the top adjacent
block or the left adjacent block that is prioritized over the other, indicates "unpartitioned
block" (YES in step S1002), the partition Information description unit 112 predicts
that the current block Is not to be partitioned (step S1003). On the other hand, when
the partition information of an adjacent block, which is the top adjacent block or
the left adjacent block that is prioritized over the other, indicates "partitioned
block" (NO in step S1002), the partition information description unit 112 predicts
that the current block is to be partitioned (step S1004). If the partition information
description unit 112 predicts that the current block is to be partitioned, the same
processing is performed for the next hierarchy depth.
[0134] Information indicating which one of the top adjacent block and the left adjacent
block is prioritized may be transmitted in header information described below, or
may be predetermined when encoding and decoding.
[0135] As in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9E, FIG. 9F, FIG. 9I and FIG. 9J, when the partition
information of the adjacent block is acquired, adjacent blocks in the largest block-size
(the size indicated by Depth = 0) to be predicted may not be considered processed.
In other words, when a partitioned block included in the current block 900 that has
the largest block-size is the current block, the partition information description
unit 112 uses only the adjacent block partition information included in the adjacent
blocks 901 and 902 for prediction, without using partition information of an adjacent
block included in the current block 900. In this case, the partition prediction may
be made using only the partition information of the top adjacent block and the left
adjacent block. Thus, the processing speed can be increased.
[0136] On the other hand, since the prediction is performed in the same order as the processing
order (for example, in order in the zigzag fashion from top to bottom), partition
prediction information of an adjacent block in the largest block-size can also be
used as in FIG. 9C, FIG. 9D, FIG. 9G, FIG. 9H, FIG. 9K, and FIG. 9L. In this case,
the prediction accuracy can be enhanced, and thereby the reduction of a greater amount
of coding can be expected.
[0137] Furthermore, since the prediction is performed in the same order as the processing
order, determined partition information can also be utilized. In this case, the prediction
accuracy can be further enhanced, and thereby the reduction of a greater amount of
coding can be expected.
[0138] It should be noted that at least either information as to whether the processed partition
prediction information in the largest block-size is to be used or whether processed
partition information is to be used may be transmitted in the header information described
below or may be predetermined when encoding and decoding.
[0139] Next, a method for predicting the partitioning pattern of a current block from the
partitioning pattern of a block in other encoded and decoded frame will be described
with reference to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are schematic views
illustrating the case where the partitioning pattern of the current block is predicted
from the partitioning pattern of the block in the encoded and decoded frame. FIG.
11A is a schematic view showing the predicted result of partitioning blocks in a processed
frame 1101 that has been encoded and decoded, and the partition prediction on the
current block in a current frame 1102 to be encoded and decoded.
[0140] Herein, partitioned shape relative position information shown in FIG. 11A is information
indicating which block in which predictive frame is to be used for prediction. It
should be noted that as shown in FIG. 11B, the use of partitioning result of a processed
frame 1104 earlier in time than a current frame 1103 or a processed frame 1105 later
in time than the current frame 1103 allows for efficient prediction.
[0141] It should be noted that the partition information description unit 112 may determine
the partitioned shape relative position information of a block to be partitioned (the
largest block-size), based on representative motion vector information among pieces
of motion vector information used for intra prediction calculated by a predetermined
method. For example, the partition information description unit 112 calculates a median
value of a motion vector of an adjacent block and also calculates a median value of
a motion vector of a reference frame in the same manner. Then, the partition information
description unit 112 may use as the partitioned shape relative position information
the motion vector based on the calculated median values.
[0142] Alternatively, if a block to be partitioned includes motion vectors, the partition
information description unit 112 may use, as the partitioned shape relative position
information, information on the leading motion vector and the reference frame as they
are. In these cases, there is no need to transmit additional information for prediction,
and thus the amount of coding can be reduced. It should be noted that in this case
also, the image coding device 100 may separately transmit the partitioned shape relative
position information. For example, the image coding device 100 first derives the partition
information of a block to be partitioned. Then, from coded frame, the image coding
device 100 calculates, as the partitioned shape relative position information, relative
position information between a block to be partitioned and a block that has the same
or the closest partition information as the block to be partitioned. Then, the image
coding device 100 encodes and decodes the partitioned shape relative position information
in the same manner as, for example, the motion vector information that is used by
the prediction unit 107 for the intra prediction.
[0143] Next, how the coded partition information is transmitted (FIG. 12A) and reconstructed
(FIG. 12B), using the predicted partition information will be described with reference
to FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, respectively.
[0144] The partition information description unit 112 calculates a difference between the
partitioning pattern and the predicted partitioning pattern, and generates the partition
Information 131 which includes the difference. Hereinafter, the details will be described.
[0145] FIG. 12A is a flowchart illustrating operation of the partition information description
unit 112.
[0146] It should be noted that the partition information description unit 112 performs the
description processing in the same order as the processing of determining the partitioning
pattern (for example, in order in the zigzag fashion from top to bottom), and, with
respect to the hierarchy (Depth), the description processing is performed in order
from top (Depth = 0) to bottom (a hierarchy depth satisfying Depth = the smallest
block-size).
[0147] First, the partition information description unit 112 acquires the partition information
and predicted partition information (hereinafter, the predicted partition information)
on the current block (step S1201). Next, the partition Information description unit
112 derives a maximum differential hierarchy depth (step S1202) in the same manner
as the processing that derives the maximum used hierarchy depth (used_max_depth) in
the embodiment 1. Herein, the maximum differential hierarchy depth is information
indicating a hierarchy depth from which the partition information and the predicted
partition information are different. In other words, the maximum differential hierarchy
depth is information indicating the top hierarchy depth from which the partition Information
and the predicted partition Information are different. For example, the derivation
method uses 0 for the predicted partition Information and the partition information
being the same and 1 for the predicted partition information and the partition information
being different, and performs the processing illustrated in the flowchart of FIG.
5, thereby deriving the maximum used hierarchy depth. Alternatively, if a hierarchy
depth (smaller block) that is lower than the maximum differential hierarchy depth
is present, the partition information description unit 112 sets the partition information
on the hierarchy depth (step S1203).
[0148] It should be noted that the description method is by way of example, and the description
method is not limited thereto insofar as the prediction method is employed.
[0149] FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating operation of reconstructing the partition Information
that is coded in the procedure illustrated in FIG. 12A.
[0150] First, a partition information reconstruction unit 207 acquires information on the
maximum differential hierarchy depth and the predicted partition information on the
block to be partitioned (step S1204). Herein, the information on the maximum differential
hierarchy depth Is information indicative of the maximum differential hierarchy depth
and Included in the code sequence 140 generated by the image coding device 100. The
predicted partition information is generated by the Image decoding device 200 performing
the same processing as the processing performed by the image coding device 100 described
above.
[0151] Next, the partition Information reconstruction unit 207 sets the predicted partition
information as the partition information on a hierarchy depth (information regarded
the same as the prediction) higher than the maximum differential hierarchy depth (step
51205).
[0152] Last, the partition information reconstruction unit 207 reconstructs the partition
information on a hierarchy depth lower than the maximum differential hierarchy depth
(step S1206). Thus, the partition information on the current block is reconstructed.
Herein, the partition information on a hierarchy depth lower than the maximum differential
hierarchy depth is included in the code sequence 140 generated by the image coding
device 100.
(Embodiment 4)
[0153] In the present embodiment, a method in which the partition information description
unit 112 records the partition-related information as the header information of a
stream, and encodes and decodes the header information will be described.
[0154] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the code sequence 140 in the image
coding method according to the present embodiment. Part (a) of FIG. 13 indicates a
coded signal corresponding to a video sequence formed of at least one screen. As shown
in (a) of FIG. 13, the code sequence 140 includes sequence data SeqData which is data
for the entire screen, and a sequence header SeqHdr which is data common to all the
data for the entire screen. The sequence header SeqHdr includes partition-related
information SepInfo.
[0155] The partition-related Information SepInfo is a flag for switching, for example, whether
the method described with reference to the embodiment 1 is used and coding only the
partition information (Dn_type information). It should be noted that the partition-related
information SepInfo may be information related to the prediction of the partitioning
pattern described with reference to the example 3.
[0156] Part (b) of FIG. 13 shows a structure of the sequence data SeqData. The sequence
data SeqData Includes a plurality of picture signals PicStr. Each picture signal PicStr
is a coded signal corresponding to one screen. In other words, each picture signal
PicStr Is a coded signal of a picture.
[0157] Part (c) of FIG. 13 shows a structure of the picture signal PicStr. The picture signal
PicStr includes picture data PicData which is data for one screen, and a picture header
PicHdr which is data common to the entirety of one screen. For example, the picture
header PicHdr may include the partition-related information SepInfo.
[0158] Part (d) of FIG. 13 shows a structure of the picture data PicData. The picture data
PicData includes a plurality of slice signals SliceStr. Each slice signal SliceStr
is a coded signal, which is a set of a plurality of block units, of a slice.
[0159] Part (e) of FIG. 13 shows a structure of the slice signal SliceStr. The slice signal
SliceStr includes slice data SliceData which is data of one slice, and a slice header
SliceHdr which is data common to all the data of one slice. The slice header SliceHdr
may include the partition-related Information SepInfo. This allows the Image decoding
device 200 to correctly decode the received coded signal even when the processing
method is appropriately switched by the image coding device 100 in slice data SliceData
units.
[0160] It should be noted that when the sequence data SeqData includes a plurality of the
picture signals PicStr, some of the picture headers PicHdr may include the partition-related
information SepInfo, rather than all the picture headers PicHdr includes the partition-related
information SepInfo.
[0161] Likewise, when the picture data PicData includes a plurality of slice signals SliceStr,
only some of the slice headers SliceHdr may include the partition-related information
SepInfo rather than all the slice headers SliceHdr includes the partition-related
information SepInfo. If the content of the partition-related information SepInfo is
common to the slices and if the partition-related information SepInfo is not in the
slice header SliceHdr as shown in (e) of FIG. 13, the image decoding device 200 substitutes
the partition-related information SepInfo included in the slice header SliceHdr of
other slice for the partition-related information on a current slice. This can suppress
an increase of the number of bits due to the partition-related information SepInfo
being repeatedly included in the code sequence 140.
[0162] As shown in (e) of FIG. 13, the slice data SliceData includes a plural pieces of
largest-block-size data LCTB. Each largest-block-size data LCTB is information on
the largest block-size in block units. Each largest-block-size data LCTB includes
a largest-block-size header LCTBHdr and a block signal CTBs. The block signal CTBs
includes plural pieces of block data CTB in a hierarchical format.
[0163] Herein, the largest-block-size header LCTBHdr includes the maximum used hierarchy
depth, the minimum used hierarchy depth or the maximum differential hierarchy depth.
It should be noted that the partition information on all the blocks may be included
in the largest-block-size header LCTBHdr or the partition information on a corresponding
block may be included in each block data CTB.
[0164] Part (f) of FIG. 13 shows a structure of the block data CTB. A portion of the block
data CTB includes a transform block header TUHdr, which is header information on the
transform structure, and a transform block TUs. Similarly to the block (CUs) described
above, the transform block TUs can also be partitioned. In other words, the present
invention may be applied to the transform blocks. In this case, various size transform
can be performed and the amount of coding for transmitting the shapes can be reduced.
[0165] Alternatively, when the code sequence 140 is transmitted in packets which are nonconsecutive
data units rather than a consecutive bitstream, the header portion and the data portion
other than the header may separately be transmitted. In this case, the header portion
and data portion are not included in a bitstream as shown in FIG. 13. When packets
are employed, however, the header portion and the data portions are not transmitted
in consecutive order, and a corresponding data portion and a corresponding header
portion are merely transmitted in different packets. In other words, although the
code sequence 140 is not a bitstream, the concept is the same as the case of bitstream
described with reference to FIG. 13.
[0166] In the decoding method according to the present invention, the code sequence 140
coded by the above method is decoded by the following procedure. First, the image
decoding device 200 acquires the partition-related information SepInfo included in
the sequence header SeqHdr, and stores the acquired partition-related information.
Next, the image decoding device 200 acquires the partition-related information SepInfo
included in the picture header PicHdr, Information SepInfo included in the picture
header PicHdr, and updates the stored partition-related information by the acquired
partition-related Information. Herein, If the partition-related information SepInfo
or a portion thereof is not present, the image decoding device 200 stores, as it is,
the partition-related information included in the sequence header SeqHdr. Likewise,
the image decoding device 200 acquires the partition-related information SepInfo included
in the slice header SliceHdr, and updates the stored partition-related information
by the acquired partition-related information. Next, the Image decoding device 200
acquires the largest-block-size data LCTB to acquire Information necessary for partition
(the maximum used hierarchy depth, the minimum used hierarchy depth or the maximum
differential hierarchy depth, and the partition information) included in the largest-block-size
header LCTBHdr. Then, the image decoding device 200 uses the acquired information
to determine the partitioned shape of the subsequent blocks.
[0167] This allows the image decoding device 200 correctly decode the code sequence 140.
(Embodiment 5)
[0168] In the present embodiment, yet another variation of the coding method and the decoding
method according to the embodiments 1, 2 and 4 of the present invention will be described.
[0169] FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C are schematic views illustrating the partitioning method using
a plurality of blocks.
[0170] The foregoing has given the description, for purposes of simplicity, when a block
is partitioned into four squared blocks. However, additionally, a block may be partitioned
into two rectangular blocks. It should be noted that in this case, blocks partitioned
into shapes other than square shape are not to be further partitioned.
[0171] For example, as shown in FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, the partition mode information indicated
by Dn_type changes from the binary information 0 (unpartitioned block) and 1 (partitioned
block) to quaternary information of 0 (unpartitioned block), 1 (block partitioned
into four blocks), 2 (block partitioned into two blocks in the horizontal direction),
and 3 (block partitioned into two blocks in the vertical direction). Even when the
partition mode information is described by such quaternary information, the method
according to the present invention allows for coding the partition information using
a small amount of coding.
[0172] Specifically, an example will be described where the partition information description
unit 112 describes block partitioned shapes shown in FIG. 14A as the partition information.
The block partitioned shapes shown in FIG. 14A represented by the aforementioned parameters
are shown in FIG. 14B. In such a manner, respective partition mode information is
set to Dn_type. In this case, according to the method of the embodiment 1, the maximum
used hierarchy depth is 2. The partition information description unit 112 describes
the maximum used hierarchy depth and the partition mode information 130A on Depth
= 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels blocks) as the partition information
131 to be coded. This allows the partition information to be coded using a small amount
of coding. The image decoding device 200 decodes the partition information having
Dn_type, using the same shape rule as when coding, thereby reconstructing the partitioned
shape.
[0173] FIG. 15A to FIG. 15C are schematic views illustrating that more partition information
can be reduced. For example, in the example of the block shape shown in FIG. 15A,
the maximum used hierarchy depth is 2 and the partition mode information on Depth
= 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels blocks) is (0, 0, 0, 1) as described
above. Herein, since the maximum used hierarchy depth is 2, at least one partitioned
block is considered included in blocks at Depth = 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical
32 pixels blocks).
[0174] Thus, once the partition mode information (0, 0, 0) has been described, the partition
information on blocks at Depth = 1 is encoded and decoded, without the partition mode
information, which is 1, being described. Thus, it can be found that the last partition
mode information is 1. In other words, when the current hierarchy depth is shallower
than the maximum used hierarchy depth and only the last block is to be partitioned
in coding order (partitioning processing order), the partition information description
unit 112 generates the partition information 131 that does not include the partition
mode information on the last block.
[0175] As described above, when the partition information description unit 112 can define
for each block, using the maximum used hierarchy depth, whether the block is to be
further partitioned, the partition information description unit 112 removes information
on the partitioning pattern of the block from the partition information 130. Then,
the variable-length coding unit 109 codes the partition information 131 from which
the above information has been removed. The processing can reduce a greater amount
of coding.
[0176] Likewise, in the example of the block shape shown in FIG. 15B, the maximum used hierarchy
depth is 3 and the minimum used hierarchy depth is 1, and the partition mode information
on blocks at Depth = 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels blocks) and Depth
= 2 (horizontal 16 pixels × vertical 16 pixels blocks) are both (0, 0, 0, 1). As described
above, the partition information can be decoded even if the partition information
is (0, 0, 0). Thus, the partition information that is 1 may not be coded. This obviates
the need of coding two pieces of the partition mode information, and can further enhance
the coding efficiency.
[0177] Likewise, in the example of the block shape shown in FIG. 15C, the maximum used hierarchy
depth is 3 and the minimum used hierarchy depth is 1. Since it has been found that
the minimum used hierarchy depth is 1, it is considered that at least one block at
Depth = 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels blocks) is not to be partitioned.
Thus, it is found that the last block in the partition mode information (1, 1, 1,
0) on the blocks at Depth = 1 (horizontal 32 pixels × vertical 32 pixels blocks) is
0. Thus, as in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the information may not be coded. In other words,
when the current hierarchy depth is the minimum used hierarchy depth and only the
last block in coding order (partitioning processing order) is not to be partitioned,
the partition information description unit 112 generates the partition information
131 that does not include the partition mode information on the last block.
[0178] As described above, if the partition information description unit 112 can define
for each block, using the minimum used hierarchy depth, whether the block Is to be
further partitioned, the partition information description unit 112 removes the information
indicative of the partitioning pattern of the block from the partition information
130. Then, the variable-length coding unit 109 variable-length codes the partition
information 131 from which the above information has been removed. This can enhance
the coding efficiency.
(Embodiment 6)
[0179] The processing described in each of embodiments can be simply implemented in an independent
computer system, by recording, in a recording medium, a program for implementing the
configurations of the moving picture coding method (image coding method) and the moving
picture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of embodiments.
The recording media may be any recording media as long as the program can be recorded,
such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magnetic optical disk, an IC card, and
a semiconductor memory.
[0180] Hereinafter, the applications to the moving picture coding method (image coding method)
and the moving picture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of
embodiments and systems using thereof will be described. The system has a feature
of having an image coding and decoding apparatus that includes an image coding apparatus
using the image coding method and an image decoding apparatus using the image decoding
method. Other configurations in the system can be changed as appropriate depending
on the cases.
[0181] FIG. 16 illustrates an overall configuration of a content providing system ex100
for implementing content distribution services. The area for providing communication
services is divided into cells of desired size, and base stations ex106, ex107, ex108,
ex109, and ex110 which are fixed wireless stations are placed in each of the cells.
[0182] The content providing system ex100 is connected to devices, such as a computer ex111,
a personal digital assistant (PDA) ex112, a camera ex113, a cellular phone ex114 and
a game machine ex115, via the Internet ex101, an Internet service provider ex102,
a telephone network ex104, as well as the base stations ex106 to ex110, respectively.
[0183] However, the configuration of the content providing system ex100 is not limited to
the configuration shown in FIG. 16, and a combination in which any of the elements
are connected is acceptable. In addition, each device may be directly connected to
the telephone network ex104, rather than via the base stations ex106 to ex110 which
are the fixed wireless stations. Furthermore, the devices may be interconnected to
each other via a short distance wireless communication and others.
[0184] The camera ex113, such as a digital video camera, is capable of capturing video.
A camera ex116, such as a digital camera, is capable of capturing both still images
and video. Furthermore, the cellular phone ex114 may be the one that meets any of
the standards such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) (registered trademark),
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA),
Long Term Evolution (LTE), and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Alternatively, the
cellular phone ex114 may be a Personal Handyphone System (PHS).
[0185] In the content providing system ex100, a streaming server ex103 is connected to the
camera ex113 and others via the telephone network ex104 and the base station ex109,
which enables distribution of images of a live show and others. In such a distribution,
a content (for example, video of a music live show) captured by the user using the
camera ex113 is coded as described above in each of embodiments (i.e., the camera
functions as the image coding apparatus according to the present invention), and the
coded content is transmitted to the streaming server exl03. On the other hand, the
streaming server ex103 carries out stream distribution of the transmitted content
data to the clients upon their requests. The clients include the computer ex111, the
PDA ex112, the camera ex113, the cellular phone ex114, and the game machine ex115
that are capable of decoding the above-mentioned coded data. Each of the devices that
have received the distributed data decodes and reproduces the coded data (i.e., functions
as the image decoding apparatus according to the present invention).
[0186] The captured data may be coded by the camera ex113 or the streaming server ex103
that transmits the data, or the coding processes may be shared between the camera
ex113 and the streaming server ex103. Similarly, the distributed data may be decoded
by the clients or the streaming server ex103, or the decoding processes may be shared
between the clients and the streaming server ex103. Furthermore, the data of the still
images and video captured by not only the camera ex113 but also the camera ex116 may
be transmitted to the streaming server exl03 through the computer ex111. The coding
processes may be performed by the camera ex116, the computer ex111, or the streaming
server ex103, or shared among them.
[0187] Furthermore, the coding and decoding processes may be performed by an LSI ex500 generally
included in each of the computer ex111 and the devices. The LSI ex500 may be configured
of a single chip or a plurality of chips. Software for encoding and decoding video
may be integrated into some type of a recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a flexible
disk, and a hard disk) that is readable by the computer ex111 and others, and the
coding and decoding processes may be performed using the software. Furthermore, when
the cellular phone ex114 is equipped with a camera, the video data obtained by the
camera may be transmitted. The video data is data coded by the LSI ex500 included
in the cellular phone ex114.
[0188] Furthermore, the streaming server ex103 may be composed of servers and computers,
and may decentralize data and process the decentralized data, record, or distribute
data.
[0189] As described above, the clients may receive and reproduce the coded data in the content
providing system ex100. In other words, the clients can receive and decode information
transmitted by the user, and reproduce the decoded data in real time in the content
providing system ex100, so that the user who does not have any particular right and
equipment can implement personal broadcasting.
[0190] Aside from the example of the content providing system ex100, at least one of the
moving picture coding apparatus (image coding apparatus) and the moving picture decoding
apparatus (image decoding apparatus) described in each of embodiments may be implemented
in a digital broadcasting system ex200 illustrated in FIG. 17. More specifically,
a broadcast station ex201 communicates or transmits, via radio waves to a broadcast
satellite ex202, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data and others onto
video data. The video data is data coded by the moving picture coding method described
in each of embodiments (i.e., data coded by the image coding apparatus according to
the present invention). Upon receipt of the multiplexed data, the broadcast satellite
ex202 transmits radio waves for broadcasting. Then, a home-use antenna ex204 with
a satellite broadcast reception function receives the radio waves. Next, a device
such as a television (receiver) ex300 and a set top box (STB) ex217 decodes the received
multiplexed data, and reproduces the decoded data (i.e., functions as the image decoding
apparatus according to the present invention).
[0191] Furthermore, a reader/recorder ex218 (i) reads and decodes the multiplexed data recorded
on a recording medium ex215, such as a DVD and a BD, or (i) codes video signals in
the recording medium ex215, and in some cases, writes data obtained by multiplexing
an audio signal on the coded data. The reader/recorder ex218 can include the moving
picture decoding apparatus or the moving picture coding apparatus as shown in each
of embodiments. In this case, the reproduced video signals are displayed on the monitor
ex219, and can be reproduced by another device or system using the recording medium
ex215 on which the multiplexed data is recorded. It is also possible to implement
the moving picture decoding apparatus in the set top box ex217 connected to the cable
ex203 for a cable television or to the antenna ex204 for satellite and/or terrestrial
broadcasting, so as to display the video signals on the monitor ex219 of the television
ex300. The moving picture decoding apparatus may be implemented not in the set top
box but in the television ex300.
[0192] FIG. 18 illustrates the television (receiver) ex300 that uses the moving picture
coding method and the moving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments.
The television ex300 includes: a tuner ex301 that obtains or provides multiplexed
data obtained by multiplexing audio data onto video data, through the antenna ex204
or the cable ex203, etc. that receives a broadcast; a modulation/demodulation unit
ex302 that demodulates the received multiplexed data or modulates data into multiplexed
data to be supplied outside; and a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 that demultiplexes
the modulated multiplexed data into video data and audio data, or multiplexes video
data and audio data coded by a signal processing unit ex306 into data.
[0193] The television ex300 further includes: a signal processing unit ex306 including an
audio signal processing unit ex304 and a video signal processing unit ex305 that decode
audio data and video data and code audio data and video data, respectively (which
function as the image coding apparatus and the image decoding apparatus according
to the present invention); and an output unit ex309 including a speaker ex307 that
provides the decoded audio signal, and a display unit ex308 that displays the decoded
video signal, such as a display. Furthermore, the television ex300 includes an interface
unit ex317 including an operation input unit ex312 that receives an input of a user
operation. Furthermore, the television ex300 includes a control unit ex310 that controls
overall each constituent element of the television ex300, and a power supply circuit
unit ex311 that supplies power to each of the elements. Other than the operation input
unit ex312, the interface unit ex317 may include: a bridge ex313 that is connected
to an external device, such as the reader/recorder ex218; a slot unit ex314 for enabling
attachment of the recording medium ex216, such as an SD card; a driver ex315 to be
connected to an external recording medium, such as a hard disk; and a modem ex316
to be connected to a telephone network. Here, the recording medium ex216 can electrically
record information using a non-volatile/volatile semiconductor memory element for
storage. The constituent elements of the television ex300 are connected to each other
through a synchronous bus.
[0194] First, the configuration in which the television ex300 decodes multiplexed data obtained
from outside through the antenna ex204 and others and reproduces the decoded data
will be described. In the television ex300, upon a user operation through a remote
controller ex220 and others, the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 demultiplexes
the multiplexed data demodulated by the modulation/demodulation unit ex302, under
control of the control unit ex310 including a CPU. Furthermore, the audio signal processing
unit ex304 decodes the demultiplexed audio data, and the video signal processing unit
ex305 decodes the demultiplexed video data, using the decoding method described in
each of embodiments, in the television ex300. The output unit ex309 provides the decoded
video signal and audio signal outside, respectively. When the output unit ex309 provides
the video signal and the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily stored in buffers
ex318 and ex319, and others so that the signals are reproduced in synchronization
with each other. Furthermore, the television ex300 may read multiplexed data not through
a broadcast and others but from the recording media ex215 and ex216, such as a magnetic
disk, an optical disk, and a SD card. Next, a configuration in which the television
ex300 codes an audio signal and a video signal, and transmits the data outside or
writes the data on a recording medium will be described. In the television ex300,
upon a user operation through the remote controller ex220 and others, the audio signal
processing unit ex304 codes an audio signal, and the video signal processing unit
ex305 codes a video signal, under control of the control unit ex310 using the coding
method described in each of embodiments. The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303
multiplexes the coded video signal and audio signal, and provides the resulting signal
outside. When the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 multiplexes the video signal
and the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily stored in the buffers ex320 and
ex321, and others so that the signals are reproduced in synchronization with each
other. Here, the buffers ex318, ex319, ex320, and ex321 may be plural as illustrated,
or at least one buffer may be shared in the television ex300. Furthermore, data may
be stored in a buffer so that the system overflow and underflow may be avoided between
the modulation/demodulation unit ex302 and the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303,
for example.
[0195] Furthermore, the television ex300 may include a configuration for receiving an AV
input from a microphone or a camera other than the configuration for obtaining audio
and video data from a broadcast or a recording medium, and may code the obtained data.
Although the television ex300 can code, multiplex, and provide outside data in the
description, it may be capable of only receiving, decoding, and providing outside
data but not the coding, multiplexing, and providing outside data.
[0196] Furthermore, when the reader/recorder ex218 reads or writes multiplexed data from
or on a recording medium, one of the television ex300 and the reader/recorder ex218
may decode or encode the multiplexed data, and the television ex300 and the reader/recorder
ex218 may share the decoding or encoding.
[0197] As an example, FIG. 19 illustrates a configuration of an information reproducing/recording
unit ex400 when data is read or written from or on an optical disk. The information
reproducing/recording unit ex400 includes constituent elements ex401, ex402, ex403,
ex404, ex405, ex406, and ex407 to be described hereinafter. The optical head ex401
irradiates a laser spot in a recording surface of the recording medium ex215 that
is an optical disk to write information, and detects reflected light from the recording
surface of the recording medium ex215 to read the information. The modulation recording
unit ex402 electrically drives a semiconductor laser included in the optical head
ex401, and modulates the laser light according to recorded data. The reproduction
demodulating unit ex403 amplifies a reproduction signal obtained by electrically detecting
the reflected light from the recording surface using a photo detector included in
the optical head ex401, and demodulates the reproduction signal by separating a signal
component recorded on the recording medium ex215 to reproduce the necessary information.
The buffer ex404 temporarily holds the information to be recorded on the recording
medium ex215 and the information reproduced from the recording medium ex215. The disk
motor ex405 rotates the recording medium ex215. The servo control unit ex406 moves
the optical head ex401 to a predetermined information track while controlling the
rotation drive of the disk motor ex405 so as to follow the laser spot. The system
control unit ex407 controls overall the information reproducing/recording unit ex400.
The reading and writing processes can be implemented by the system control unit ex407
using various information stored in the buffer ex404 and generating and adding new
information as necessary, and by the modulation recording unit ex402, the reproduction
demodulating unit ex403, and the servo control unit ex406 that record and reproduce
information through the optical head ex401 while being operated in a coordinated manner.
The system control unit ex407 includes, for example, a microprocessor, and executes
processing by causing a computer to execute a program for read and write.
[0198] Although the optical head ex401 irradiates a laser spot in the description, it may
perform high-density recording using near field light.
[0199] FIG. 20 illustrates the recording medium ex215 that is the optical disk. On the recording
surface of the recording medium ex215, guide grooves are spirally formed, and an information
track ex230 records, in advance, address information indicating an absolute position
on the disk according to change in a shape of the guide grooves. The address information
includes information for determining positions of recording blocks ex231 that are
a unit for recording data. Reproducing the information track ex230 and reading the
address information in an apparatus that records and reproduces data can lead to determination
of the positions of the recording blocks. Furthermore, the recording medium ex215
includes a data recording area ex233, an inner circumference area ex232, and an outer
circumference area ex234. The data recording area ex233 is an area for use in recording
the user data. The inner circumference area ex232 and the outer circumference area
ex234 that are inside and outside of the data recording area ex233, respectively are
for specific use except for recording the user data. The information reproducing/recording
unit 400 reads and writes coded audio, coded video data, or multiplexed data obtained
by multiplexing the coded audio and video data, from and on the data recording area
ex233 of the recording medium ex215.
[0200] Although an optical disk having a layer, such as a DVD and a BD is described as an
example in the description, the optical disk is not limited to such, and may be an
optical disk having a multilayer structure and capable of being recorded on a part
other than the surface. Furthermore, the optical disk may have a structure for multidimensional
recording/reproduction, such as recording of information using light of colors with
different wavelengths in the same portion of the optical disk and for recording information
having different layers from various angles.
[0201] Furthermore, a car ex210 having an antenna ex205 can receive data from the satellite
ex202 and others, and reproduce video on a display device such as a car navigation
system ex211 set in the car ex210, in the digital broadcasting system ex200. Here,
a configuration of the car navigation system ex211 will be a configuration, for example,
including a GPS receiving unit from the configuration illustrated in FIG. 18. The
same will be true for the configuration of the computer ex111, the cellular phone
ex114, and others.
[0202] FIG. 21A illustrates the cellular phone ex114 that uses the moving picture coding
method and the moving picture decoding method described in embodiments. The cellular
phone ex114 includes: an antenna ex350 for transmitting and receiving radio waves
through the base station ex110; a camera unit ex365 capable of capturing moving and
still images; and a display unit ex358 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying
the data such as decoded video captured by the camera unit ex365 or received by the
antenna ex350. The cellular phone ex114 further includes: a main body unit including
an operation key unit ex366; an audio output unit ex357 such as a speaker for output
of audio; an audio input unit ex356 such as a microphone for input of audio; a memory
unit ex367 for storing captured video or still pictures, recorded audio, encoded or
decoded data of the received video, the still pictures, e-mails, or others; and a
slot unit ex364 that is an interface unit for a recording medium that stores data
in the same manner as the memory unit ex367.
[0203] Next, an example of a configuration of the cellular phone ex114 will be described
with reference to FIG. 21B. In the cellular phone ex114, a main control unit ex360
designed to control overall each unit of the main body including the display unit
ex358 as well as the operation key unit ex366 is connected mutually, via a synchronous
bus ex370, to a power supply circuit unit ex361, an operation input control unit ex362,
a video signal processing unit ex355, a camera interface unit ex363, a liquid crystal
display (LCD) control unit ex359, a modulation/demodulation unit ex352, a multiplexing/demultiplexing
unit ex353, an audio signal processing unit ex354, the slot unit ex364, and the memory
unit ex367.
[0204] When a call-end key or a power key is turned ON by a user's operation, the power
supply circuit unit ex361 supplies the respective units with power from a battery
pack so as to activate the cell phone ex114.
[0205] In the cellular phone ex114, the audio signal processing unit ex354 converts the
audio signals collected by the audio input unit ex356 in voice conversation mode into
digital audio signals under the control of the main control unit ex360 including a
CPU, ROM, and RAM. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit ex352 performs spread spectrum
processing on the digital audio signals, and the transmitting and receiving unit ex351
performs digital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion on the data, so as
to transmit the resulting data via the antenna ex350. Also, in the cellular phone
ex114, the transmitting and receiving unit ex351 amplifies the data received by the
antenna ex350 in voice conversation mode and performs frequency conversion and the
analog-to-digital conversion on the data. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit ex352
performs inverse spread spectrum processing on the data, and the audio signal processing
unit ex354 converts it into analog audio signals, so as to output them via the audio
output unit ex357.
[0206] Furthermore, when an e-mail in data communication mode is transmitted, text data
of the e-mail inputted by operating the operation key unit ex366 and others of the
main body is sent out to the main control unit ex360 via the operation input control
unit ex362. The main control unit ex360 causes the modulation/demodulation unit ex352
to perform spread spectrum processing on the text data, and the transmitting and receiving
unit ex351 performs the digital-to-analog conversion and the frequency conversion
on the resulting data to transmit the data to the base station ex110 via the antenna
ex350. When an e-mail is received, processing that is approximately inverse to the
processing for transmitting an e-mail is performed on the received data, and the resulting
data is provided to the display unit ex358.
[0207] When video, still images, or video and audio in data communication mode is or are
transmitted, the video signal processing unit ex355 compresses and codes video signals
supplied from the camera unit ex365 using the moving picture coding method shown in
each of embodiments (i.e., functions as the image coding apparatus according to the
present invention), and transmits the coded video data to the multiplexing/demultiplexing
unit ex353. In contrast, during when the camera unit ex365 captures video, still images,
and others, the audio signal processing unit ex354 codes audio signals collected by
the audio input unit ex356, and transmits the coded audio data to the multiplexing/demultiplexing
unit ex353.
[0208] The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex353 multiplexes the coded video data supplied
from the video signal processing unit ex355 and the coded audio data supplied from
the audio signal processing unit ex354, using a predetermined method. Then, the modulation/demodulation
unit (modulation/demodulation circuit unit) ex352 performs spread spectrum processing
on the multiplexed data, and the transmitting and receiving unit ex351 performs digital-to-analog
conversion and frequency conversion on the data so as to transmit the resulting data
via the antenna ex350.
[0209] When receiving data of a video file which is linked to a Web page and others in data
communication mode or when receiving an e-mail with video and/or audio attached, in
order to decode the multiplexed data received via the antenna ex350, the multiplexing/demultiplexing
unit ex353 demultiplexes the multiplexed data into a video data bit stream and an
audio data bit stream, and supplies the video signal processing unit ex355 with the
coded video data and the audio signal processing unit ex354 with the coded audio data,
through the synchronous bus ex370. The video signal processing unit ex355 decodes
the video signal using a moving picture decoding method corresponding to the moving
picture coding method shown in each of embodiments (i.e., functions as the image decoding
apparatus according to the present invention), and then the display unit ex358 displays,
for instance, the video and still images included in the video file linked to the
Web page via the LCD control unit ex359. Furthermore, the audio signal processing
unit ex354 decodes the audio signal, and the audio output unit ex357 provides the
audio.
[0210] Furthermore, similarly to the television ex300, a terminal such as the cellular phone
ex114 probably have 3 types of implementation configurations including not only (i)
a transmitting and receiving terminal including both a coding apparatus and a decoding
apparatus, but also (ii) a transmitting terminal including only a coding apparatus
and (iii) a receiving terminal including only a decoding apparatus. Although the digital
broadcasting system ex200 receives and transmits the multiplexed data obtained by
multiplexing audio data onto video data in the description, the multiplexed data may
be data obtained by multiplexing not audio data but character data related to video
onto video data, and may be not multiplexed data but video data itself.
[0211] As such, the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method
in each of embodiments can be used in any of the devices and systems described. Thus,
the advantages described in each of embodiments can be obtained.
[0212] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to embodiments, and various modifications
and revisions are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(Embodiment 7)
[0213] Video data can be generated by switching, as necessary, between (i) the moving picture
coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments
and (ii) a moving picture coding method or a moving picture coding apparatus in conformity
with a different standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1.
[0214] Here, when a plurality of video data that conforms to the different standards is
generated and is then decoded, the decoding methods need to be selected to conform
to the different standards. However, since to which standard each of the plurality
of the video data to be decoded conform cannot be detected, there is a problem that
an appropriate decoding method cannot be selected.
[0215] In order to solve the problem, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data
and others onto video data has a structure including identification information indicating
to which standard the video data conforms. The specific structure of the multiplexed
data including the video data generated in the moving picture coding method and by
the moving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments will be hereinafter
described. The multiplexed data is a digital stream in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream
format.
[0216] FIG. 22 illustrates a structure of the multiplexed data. As illustrated in FIG. 22,
the multiplexed data can be obtained by multiplexing at least one of a video stream,
an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream (PG), and an interactive graphics
stream. The video stream represents primary video and secondary video of a movie,
the audio stream (IG) represents a primary audio part and a secondary audio part to
be mixed with the primary audio part, and the presentation graphics stream represents
subtitles of the movie, Here, the primary video is normal video to be displayed on
a screen, and the secondary video is video to be displayed on a smaller window in
the primary video. Furthermore, the interactive graphics stream represents an interactive
screen to be generated by arranging the GUI components on a screen. The video stream
is coded in the moving picture coding method or by the moving picture coding apparatus
shown in each of embodiments, or in a moving picture coding method or by a moving
picture coding apparatus in conformity with a conventional standard, such as MPEG-2,
MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1. The audio stream is coded in accordance with a standard, such
as Dolby-AC-3, Dolby Digital Plus, MLP, DTS, DTS-HD, and linear PCM.
[0217] Each stream included in the multiplexed data is identified by PID. For example, 0x1011
is allocated to the video stream to be used for video of a movie, 0x1100 to 0x111F
are allocated to the audio streams, 0x1200 to 0x121F are allocated to the presentation
graphics streams, 0x1400 to 0x141F are allocated to the interactive graphics streams,
0x1B00 to 0x1B1F are allocated to the video streams to be used for secondary video
of the movie, and 0x1A00 to 0x1A1F are allocated to the audio streams to be used for
the secondary audio to be mixed with the primary audio.
[0218] FIG. 23 schematically illustrates how data is multiplexed. First, a video stream
ex235 composed of video frames and an audio stream ex238 composed of audio frames
are transformed into a stream of PES packets ex236 and a stream of PES packets ex239,
and further into TS packets ex237 and TS packets ex240, respectively. Similarly, data
of a presentation graphics stream ex241 and data of an interactive graphics stream
ex244 are transformed into a stream of PES packets ex242 and a stream of PES packets
ex245, and further into TS packets ex243 and TS packets ex246, respectively. These
TS packets are multiplexed into a stream to obtain multiplexed data ex247.
[0219] FIG. 24 illustrates how a video stream is stored in a stream of PES packets in more
detail. The first bar in FIG. 24 shows a video frame stream in a video stream. The
second bar shows the stream of PES packets. As indicated by arrows denoted as yy1,
yy2, yy3, and yy4 in FIG. 24, the video stream is divided into pictures as I pictures,
B pictures, and P pictures each of which is a video presentation unit, and the pictures
are stored in a payload of each of the PES packets. Each of the PES packets has a
PES header, and the PES header stores a Presentation Time-Stamp (PTS) indicating a
display time of the picture, and a Decoding Time-Stamp (DTS) indicating a decoding
time of the picture.
[0220] FIG. 25 illustrates a format of TS packets to be finally written on the multiplexed
data. Each of the TS packets is a 188-byte fixed length packet including a 4-byte
TS header having information, such as a PID for identifying a stream and a 184-byte
TS payload for storing data. The PES packets are divided, and stored in the TS payloads,
respectively. When a BD ROM is used, each of the TS packets is given a 4-byte TP_Extra_Header,
thus resulting in 192-byte source packets. The source packets are written on the multiplexed
data. The TP_Extra_Header stores information such as an Arrival_Time_Stamp (ATS).
The ATS shows a transfer start time at which each of the TS packets is to be transferred
to a PID filter. The source packets are arranged in the multiplexed data as shown
at the bottom of FIG. 25. The numbers incrementing from the head of the multiplexed
data are called source packet numbers (SPNs).
[0221] Each of the TS packets included in the multiplexed data includes not only streams
of audio, video, subtitles and others, but also a Program Association Table (PAT),
a Program Map Table (PMT), and a Program Clock Reference (PCR). The PAT shows what
a PID in a PMT used in the multiplexed data indicates, and a PID of the PAT itself
is registered as zero. The PMT stores PIDs of the streams of video, audio, subtitles
and others included in the multiplexed data, and attribute information of the streams
corresponding to the PIDs. The PMT also has various descriptors relating to the multiplexed
data. The descriptors have information such as copy control information showing whether
copying of the multiplexed data is permitted or not. The PCR stores STC time information
corresponding to an ATS showing when the PCR packet is transferred to a decoder, in
order to achieve synchronization between an Arrival Time Clock (ATC) that is a time
axis of ATSs, and an System Time Clock (STC) that is a time axis of PTSs and DTSs.
[0222] FIG. 26 illustrates the data structure of the PMT in detail. A PMT header is disposed
at the top of the PMT. The PMT header describes the length of data included in the
PMT and others. A plurality of descriptors relating to the multiplexed data is disposed
after the PMT header. Information such as the copy control information is described
in the descriptors. After the descriptors, a plurality of pieces of stream information
relating to the streams included in the multiplexed data is disposed. Each piece of
stream information includes stream descriptors each describing information, such as
a stream type for identifying a compression codec of a stream, a stream PID, and stream
attribute information (such as a frame rate or an aspect ratio). The stream descriptors
are equal in number to the number of streams in the multiplexed data.
[0223] When the multiplexed data is recorded on a recording medium and others, it is recorded
together with multiplexed data information files.
[0224] Each of the multiplexed data information files is management information of the multiplexed
data as shown in FIG. 27. The multiplexed data information files are in one to one
correspondence with the multiplexed data, and each of the files includes multiplexed
data information, stream attribute information, and an entry map.
[0225] As illustrated in FIG. 27, the multiplexed data information includes a system rate,
a reproduction start time, and a reproduction end time. The system rate indicates
the maximum transfer rate at which a system target decoder to be described later transfers
the multiplexed data to a PID filter. The intervals of the ATSs included in the multiplexed
data are set to not higher than a system rate. The reproduction start time indicates
a PTS in a video frame at the head of the multiplexed data. An interval of one frame
is added to a PTS in a video frame at the end of the multiplexed data, and the PTS
is set to the reproduction end time.
[0226] As shown in FIG. 28, a piece of attribute information is registered in the stream
attribute information, for each PID of each stream included in the multiplexed data.
Each piece of attribute information has different information depending on whether
the corresponding stream is a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics
stream, or an interactive graphics stream. Each piece of video stream attribute information
carries information including what kind of compression codec is used for compressing
the video stream, and the resolution, aspect ratio and frame rate of the pieces of
picture data that is included in the video stream. Each piece of audio stream attribute
information carries information including what kind of compression codec is used for
compressing the audio stream, how many channels are included in the audio stream,
which language the audio stream supports, and how high the sampling frequency is.
The video stream attribute information and the audio stream attribute information
are used for initialization of a decoder before the player plays back the information.
[0227] In the present embodiment, the multiplexed data to be used is of a stream type included
in the PMT. Furthermore, when the multiplexed data is recorded on a recording medium,
the video stream attribute information included in the multiplexed data information
is used. More specifically, the moving picture coding method or the moving picture
coding apparatus described in each of embodiments includes a step or a unit for allocating
unique information indicating video data generated by the moving picture coding method
or the moving picture coding apparatus in each of embodiments, to the stream type
included in the PMT or the video stream attribute information. With the configuration,
the video data generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture
coding apparatus described in each of embodiments can be distinguished from video
data that conforms to another standard.
[0228] Furthermore, FIG. 29 illustrates steps of the moving picture decoding method according
to the present embodiment. In Step exS100, the stream type included in the PMT or
the video stream attribute information included in the multiplexed data information
is obtained from the multiplexed data. Next, in Step exS101, it is determined whether
or not the stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates that the
multiplexed data is generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture
coding apparatus in each of embodiments. When it is determined that the stream type
or the video stream attribute information indicates that the multiplexed data is generated
by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus in each
of embodiments, in Step exS102, decoding is performed by the moving picture decoding
method in each of embodiments. Furthermore, when the stream type or the video stream
attribute information indicates conformance to the conventional standards, such as
MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, in Step exS103, decoding is performed by a moving picture
decoding method in conformity with the conventional standards.
[0229] As such, allocating a new unique value to the stream type or the video stream attribute
information enables determination whether or not the moving picture decoding method
or the moving picture decoding apparatus that is described in each of embodiments
can perform decoding. Even when multiplexed data that conforms to a different standard
is input, an appropriate decoding method or apparatus can be selected. Thus, it becomes
possible to decode information without any error. Furthermore, the moving picture
coding method or apparatus, or the moving picture decoding method or apparatus in
the present embodiment can be used in the devices and systems described above.
(Embodiment 8)
[0230] Each of the moving picture coding method, the moving picture coding apparatus, the
moving picture decoding method, and the moving picture decoding apparatus in each
of embodiments is typically achieved in the form of an integrated circuit or a Large
Scale Integrated (LSI) circuit. As an example of the LSI, FIG. 30 illustrates a configuration
of the LSI ex500 that is made into one chip. The LSI ex500 includes elements ex501,
ex502, ex503, ex504, ex505, ex506, ex507, ex508, and ex509 to be described below,
and the elements are connected to each other through a bus ex510. The power supply
circuit unit ex505 is activated by supplying each of the elements with power when
the power supply circuit unit ex505 is turned on.
[0231] For example, when coding is performed, the LSI ex500 receives an AV signal from a
microphone ex117, a camera ex113, and others through an AV IO ex509 under control
of a control unit ex501 including a CPU ex502, a memory controller ex503, a stream
controller ex504, and a driving frequency control unit ex512. The received AV signal
is temporarily stored in an external memory ex511, such as an SDRAM. Under control
of the control unit ex501, the stored data is segmented into data portions according
to the processing amount and speed to be transmitted to a signal processing unit ex507.
Then, the signal processing unit ex507 codes an audio signal and/or a video signal.
Here, the coding of the video signal is the coding described in each of embodiments.
Furthermore, the signal processing unit ex507 sometimes multiplexes the coded audio
data and the coded video data, and a stream IO ex506 provides the multiplexed data
outside. The provided multiplexed data is transmitted to the base station ex107, or
written on the recording medium ex215. When data sets are multiplexed, the data should
be temporarily stored in the buffer ex508 so that the data sets are synchronized with
each other.
[0232] Although the memory ex511 is an element outside the LSI ex500, it may be included
in the LSI ex500. The buffer ex508 is not limited to one buffer, but may be composed
of buffers. Furthermore, the LSI ex500 may be made into one chip or a plurality of
chips.
[0233] Furthermore, although the control unit ex501 includes the CPU ex502, the memory controller
ex503, the stream controller ex504, the driving frequency control unit ex512, the
configuration of the control unit ex501 is not limited to such. For example, the signal
processing unit ex507 may further include a CPU. Inclusion of another CPU in the signal
processing unit ex507 can improve the processing speed. Furthermore, as another example,
the CPU ex502 may serve as or be a part of the signal processing unit ex507, and,
for example, may include an audio signal processing unit. In such a case, the control
unit ex501 includes the signal processing unit ex507 or the CPU ex502 including a
part of the signal processing unit ex507.
[0234] The name used here is LSI, but it may also be called IC, system LSI, super LSI, or
ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.
[0235] Moreover, ways to achieve integration are not limited to the LSI, and a special circuit
or a general purpose processor and so forth can also achieve the integration. Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that can be programmed after manufacturing LSIs or
a reconfigurable processor that allows re-configuration of the connection or configuration
of an LSI can be used for the same purpose.
[0236] In the future, with advancement in semiconductor technology, a brand-new technology
may replace LSI. The functional blocks can be integrated using such a technology.
The possibility is that the present invention is applied to biotechnology.
(Embodiment 9)
[0237] When video data generated in the moving picture coding method or by the moving picture
coding apparatus described in each of embodiments is decoded, compared to when video
data that conforms to a conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1
is decoded, the processing amount probably increases. Thus, the LSI ex500 needs to
be set to a driving frequency higher than that of the CPU ex502 to be used when video
data in conformity with the conventional standard is decoded. However, when the driving
frequency is set higher, there is a problem that the power consumption increases.
[0238] In order to solve the problem, the moving picture decoding apparatus, such as the
television ex300 and the LSI ex500 is configured to determine to which standard the
video data conforms, and switch between the driving frequencies according to the determined
standard. FIG. 31 illustrates a configuration ex800 in the present embodiment. A driving
frequency switching unit ex803 sets a driving frequency to a higher driving frequency
when video data is generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture
coding apparatus described in each of embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switching
unit ex803 instructs a decoding processing unit ex801 that executes the moving picture
decoding method described in each of embodiments to decode the video data. When the
video data conforms to the conventional standard, the driving frequency switching
unit ex803 sets a driving frequency to a lower driving frequency than that of the
video data generated by the moving picture coding method or the moving picture coding
apparatus described in each of embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switching
unit ex803 instructs the decoding processing unit ex802 that conforms to the conventional
standard to decode the video data.
[0239] More specifically, the driving frequency switching unit ex803 includes the CPU ex502
and the driving frequency control unit ex512 in FIG. 30. Here, each of the decoding
processing unit ex801 that executes the moving picture decoding method described in
each of embodiments and the decoding processing unit ex802 that conforms to the conventional
standard corresponds to the signal processing unit ex507 in FIG. 30. The CPU ex502
determines to which standard the video data conforms. Then, the driving frequency
control unit ex512 determines a driving frequency based on a signal from the CPU ex502.
Furthermore, the signal processing unit ex507 decodes the video data based on the
signal from the CPU ex502. For example, the identification information described in
Embodiment 7 is probably used for identifying the video data. The identification information
is not limited to the one described in Embodiment 7 but may be any information as
long as the information indicates to which standard the video data conforms. For example,
when which standard video data conforms to can be determined based on an external
signal for determining that the video data is used for a television or a disk, etc.,
the determination may be made based on such an external signal. Furthermore, the CPU
ex502 selects a driving frequency based on, for example, a look-up table in which
the standards of the video data are associated with the driving frequencies as shown
in FIG. 33. The driving frequency can be selected by storing the look-up table in
the buffer ex508 and in an internal memory of an LSI, and with reference to the look-up
table by the CPU ex502.
[0240] FIG. 32 illustrates steps for executing a method in the present embodiment. First,
in Step exS200, the signal processing unit ex507 obtains identification information
from the multiplexed data. Next, in Step exS201, the CPU ex502 determines whether
or not the video data is generated by the coding method and the coding apparatus described
in each of embodiments, based on the identification information. When the video data
is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus
described in each of embodiments, in Step exS202, the CPU ex502 transmits a signal
for setting the driving frequency to a higher driving frequency to the driving frequency
control unit ex512. Then, the driving frequency control unit ex512 sets the driving
frequency to the higher driving frequency. On the other hand, when the identification
information indicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such
as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, in Step exS203, the CPU ex502 transmits a signal
for setting the driving frequency to a lower driving frequency to the driving frequency
control unit ex512. Then, the driving frequency control unit ex512 sets the driving
frequency to the lower driving frequency than that in the case where the video data
is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus
described in each of embodiment.
[0241] Furthermore, along with the switching of the driving frequencies, the power conservation
effect can be improved by changing the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex500 or an
apparatus including the LSI ex500. For example, when the driving frequency is set
lower, the voltage to be applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI
ex500 is probably set to a voltage lower than that in the case where the driving frequency
is set higher.
[0242] Furthermore, when the processing amount for decoding is larger, the driving frequency
may be set higher, and when the processing amount for decoding is smaller, the driving
frequency may be set lower as the method for setting the driving frequency. Thus,
the setting method is not limited to the ones described above. For example, when the
processing amount for decoding video data in conformity with MPEG-4 AVC is larger
than the processing amount for decoding video data generated by the moving picture
coding method and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments,
the driving frequency is probably set in reverse order to the setting described above.
[0243] Furthermore, the method for setting the driving frequency is not limited to the method
for setting the driving frequency lower. For example, when the identification information
indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and
the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, the voltage
to be applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI ex500 is probably
set higher. When the identification information indicates that the video data conforms
to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, the voltage to
be applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI ex500 is probably set
lower. As another example, when the identification information indicates that the
video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picture
coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, the driving of the CPU ex502 does
not probably have to be suspended. When the identification information indicates that
the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC,
and VC-1, the driving of the CPU ex502 is probably suspended at a given time because
the CPU ex502 has extra processing capacity. Even when the identification information
indicates that the video data is generated by the moving picture coding method and
the moving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, in the case
where the CPU ex502 has extra processing capacity, the driving of the CPU ex502 is
probably suspended at a given time. In such a case, the suspending time is probably
set shorter than that in the case where when the identification information indicates
that the video data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4
AVC, and VC-1.
[0244] Accordingly, the power conservation effect can be improved by switching between the
driving frequencies in accordance with the standard to which the video data conforms.
Furthermore, when the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI ex500 is driven
using a battery, the battery life can be extended with the power conservation effect.
(Embodiment 10)
[0245] There are cases where a plurality of video data that conforms to different standards,
is provided to the devices and systems, such as a television and a cellular phone.
In order to enable decoding the plurality of video data that conforms to the different
standards, the signal processing unit ex507 of the LSI ex500 needs to conform to the
different standards. However, the problems of increase in the scale of the circuit
of the LSI ex500 and increase in the cost arise with the individual use of the signal
processing units ex507 that conform to the respective standards.
[0246] In order to solve the problem, what is conceived is a configuration in which the
decoding processing unit for implementing the moving picture decoding method described
in each of embodiments and the decoding processing unit that conforms to the conventional
standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1 are partly shared. Ex900 in FIG. 34A
shows an example of the configuration. For example, the moving picture decoding method
described in each of embodiments and the moving picture decoding method that conforms
to MPEG-4 AVC have, partly in common, the details of processing, such as entropy coding,
inverse quantization, deblocking filtering, and motion compensated prediction. The
details of processing to be shared probably include use of a decoding processing unit
ex902 that conforms to MPEG-4 AVC. In contrast, a dedicated decoding processing unit
ex901 is probably used for other processing unique to the present invention. Since
the present invention is characterized by the partitioning processing in particular,
for example, the dedicated decoding processing unit ex901 is used for the partitioning
processing. Otherwise, the decoding processing unit is probably shared for one of
the entropy decoding, inverse quantization, deblocking filtering, and motion compensation,
or all of the processing. The decoding processing unit for implementing the moving
picture decoding method described in each of embodiments may be shared for the processing
to be shared, and a dedicated decoding processing unit may be used for processing
unique to that of MPEG-4 AVC.
[0247] Furthermore, ex1000 in FIG. 34B shows another example in that processing is partly
shared. This example uses a configuration including a dedicated decoding processing
unit ex1001 that supports the processing unique to the present invention, a dedicated
decoding processing unit ex1002 that supports the processing unique to another conventional
standard, and a decoding processing unit ex1003 that supports processing to be shared
between the moving picture decoding method according to the present invention and
the conventional moving picture decoding method. Here, the dedicated decoding processing
units ex1001 and ex1002 are not necessarily specialized for the processing according
to the present invention and the processing of the conventional standard, respectively,
and may be the ones capable of implementing general processing. Furthermore, the configuration
of the present embodiment can be implemented by the LSI ex500.
[0248] As such, reducing the scale of the circuit of an LSI and reducing the cost are possible
by sharing the decoding processing unit for the processing to be shared between the
moving picture decoding method according to the present invention and the moving picture
decoding method in conformity with the conventional standard.
[Industrial Applicability]
[0249] An image coding method and an image decoding method according to the present invention
allow for efficient description and reconstruction of a block partitioning method
which has not been supported by conventional variable-length coding method and decoding
methods. Due to this, the image coding method and the image decoding method have advantages
of reducing a great amount of coding, and thus can be utilized in various applications
such as storages, transmissions, and communications. For example, the present invention
can be utilized in high resolution information display devices and imaging devices
such as TVs, digital video recorders, car navigation systems, mobile phones, digital
cameras, and digital video cameras.
[Reference Signs List]
[0250]
- 100
- Image coding device
- 101
- Difference unit
- 102
- Transform unit
- 103
- Quantization unit
- 104
- Inverse quantization unit
- 105
- Inverse transform unit
- 106
- Adder
- 107
- Prediction unit
- 108
- Encoding control unit
- 109
- Variable-length coding unit
- 110
- Partitioning unit
- 111
- Partitioning control unit
- 112
- Partition information description unit
- 120
- Input image signal
- 121
- Divided image signal
- 122
- Differential signal
- 123,
- 125 Transform coefficient
- 124
- Quantized transform coefficients information
- 126
- Decoded residual image signal
- 127
- Decoded image signal
- 128
- Predicted image signal
- 129
- Divide control signal
- 130,
- 131 Partition information
- 130A
- Partition mode information
- 132
- Encoding control signal
- 140
- Code sequence
- 200
- Image decoding device
- 201
- Variable-length decoding unit
- 202
- Decoding control unit
- 203
- Inverse quantization unit
- 204
- Inverse transform unit
- 205
- Prediction unit
- 206
- Adder
- 207
- Partition information reconstruction unit
- 221
- Decoded signal
- 222
- Transform coefficients
- 223
- Decoded residual image signal
- 224
- Predicted image signal
- 225
- Predicted image generation-related information
- 226
- Partition information
- 240
- Output image signal
- 900
- Current block
- 901, 902
- Adjacent block
- 1101, 1104, 1105
- Plessed frame
- 1102, 1103
- Current frame
- CTB
- Block data
- CTBs
- Block signal
- LCTB
- Largest block-size data
- LCTBHdr
- Largest block-size header
- PicHdr
- Picture header
- PicStr
- Picture signal
- PicData
- Picture data
- SepInfo
- Partition-related information
- SeqData
- Sequence data
- SeqHdr
- Sequence header
- SliceData
- Slice data
- SliceHdr
- Slice header
- SliceStr
- Slice signal
- TUHdr
- Transform block header
- TUs
- Transform block